Climate Targets and the Cattleman: What the Goals Mean for Your Ranch

Somebody in a suit announces a target year, a reporter writes it up, and a neighbor asks what it means for you. The honest answer is: it depends on which target, and it depends on who is counting. Here is a plain look at what has been said and what it means for a working cattleman.

What was promised

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef set a goal to cut carbon intensity of beef by 30 percent by 2030, per BusinessGreen. Intensity means emissions per pound of beef, so it rewards raising more beef per cow. The coverage I reviewed did not give the baseline year, so look at the group's site at grsbeef.org for the details.

Here at home, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association said in August 2021 it wanted to demonstrate climate neutrality for US cattle production by 2040, according to Beef Central. A task force of producers put the goals together. The coverage did not spell out how they would get there.

What got dropped

Australia went further and earlier. Their red meat industry set carbon neutral by 2030 back in 2017 and then gave it up. Tri-State Livestock News reports they figured they were still about 90 percent short with under five years to go. The same story says emissions from the sector fell 78 percent between 2005 and 2021, but most of that came from less land clearing and a smaller herd, not from cleaner cattle.

Take two lessons. First, a dated goal does not make the technology or the money show up. Second, when somebody brags about a big cut, find out whether it came from better beef production or from fewer cattle and less cleared ground. Those are not the same thing.

What matters at your place

You do not need a target to know what pays. Every item below also helps the bottom line.

• Get cows bred and calving on time. An open cow eats all year and sells you nothing. More calves per cow means less feed per pound sold.
• Pick genetics that grow and finish. Quicker gains mean fewer days on feed. Our bull buying checklist is a place to begin.
• Feed good forage. Cattle on better feed digest better and gain better.
• Manage grass. Rested, leafy pasture grows more feed. Some operations report added carbon in the soil as well, though the amount and how long it lasts depends on the ground. See our guide to rotational grazing.
• Watch the new tools. Feed additives are being studied. Some look promising. Most are not yet ready for an average outfit.

Why methane gets the attention

Cattle make methane as they digest forage, and methane is a short-lived but potent greenhouse gas. That is why so much of the research money is going toward feed, genetics and additives. It is also why the word "neutral" gets argued over: methane that stops being added to the air does not behave the same as carbon dioxide that piles up. You do not have to settle that argument to run your ranch. You do need to know that when a group says climate neutral, it is making a claim about how methane is counted, and that the counting method can change the answer.

The fair way to listen is the same way you listen to any sale pitch. Take the parts that hold up, check the numbers, and keep your own books straight. A rancher with good records, healthy cows and well-managed grass is in the best shape no matter whose target wins out.

Where the money might come from

Packers, retailers and some brands are asking for emissions data from suppliers, and some programs are paying for documented practices. Whether any of it reaches your check depends on your buyer and your region. Do not spend money for a premium that has not been offered to you in writing. For Certified Angus Beef or the American Angus Association programs, go straight to certifiedangusbeef.com or angus.org, and remember neither one sets industry climate policy.

How to size up a claim

When you see a number, ask the same questions every time. Is it total emissions or emissions per pound? What year is it measured from? Did they count land clearing, soil carbon and methane, and how? Who checked the math? And is it something already done, or something somebody hopes to do? The USDA Economic Research Service and the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef have material that helps.

Keep records either way

A notebook with calving percentages, weaning weights, rest periods and feed bought is worth having whether or not anybody ever pays you for it. It makes your own decisions better, and if a buyer or program asks for data, you will not be scrambling. For more on managing grass for the long haul, see farm.fm's page on pasture management for Angus herds, and to find extension and conservation offices near you, try agriculture.directory.

Programs and targets keep changing, so check current details with the groups behind them. This site is independent and not affiliated with the American Angus Association or Certified Angus Beef.