Beef Issues Management

Protect and Defend the Image of Beef

Beef Issues Monitoring

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Animal Rights Nutrition/Health Economic Environment Beef Safety Beef Marketing Misc.

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Beef Industry Media CoverageVolume as a percentage of total coverage

Online MonitoringRiver of News

Topic Cloud

Issue Comparison

Protect and Defend the Image of Beef

Issues Update

Online Positioning of Beef Production

ExploreBeef.org

Sustainability Reputation Management

Dave Petty, who raises cows, calves, corn and soybeans on 4,000 acres in Eldora, Iowa, has turned some crop production land into pasture to prevent erosion and protect nearby streams from fertilizer runoff. After fall harvests, he doesn't till his fields because leaving crop residue in place adds nutrients to soil and helps it retain moisture.

"Every major decision we make has to be sustainable," says Petty, 56.

Scott Stone's family cattle ranch in Woodland, Calif., irrigates 600 acres of pasture and cropland with water from a nearby soup factory, limits the amount of time cows graze on each pasture to reduce disruption to plants and soil, and makes conservation projects a priority.

It takes time and money, says Stone, 51, but "you're doing the right thing. There are long-term benefits."

The Yon family farm in Ridge Spring, S.C., also practices rotational grazing, says Lydia Yon, 43. They fenced their streams to prevent erosion and keep cattle from tainting them, making groundwater cleaner, she says. They plant grasses that give nutrients back to the soil.

"What's good for us from a business standpoint and at the same time is good for the environment is not something we do because we have to, but because we want to," she says.

Collaboration Across the Checkoff

Connecting the Dots for Educators

Farmer Goes to Market

Crisis Preparedness and Management

BSEInfo.org Publicity

Beef Checkoff revamps, revitalizes and re-launches BSE website

"The latest update to BSEInfo.org reflects the industry's commitment to providing the most current, scientifically valid information about these diseases. The beef checkoff is dedicated to investing in educational tools such as the site in order to eliminate confusion and misinformation among numerous audiences," says cow-calf producer Austin Brown III, Cattlemen's Beef Board member from Beeville, Texas, and vice chair of the Joint Information Committee.

Beef Checkoff launches updated BSE Web site

Updated BSE Web site offers new content, design