February 2, 2021

US cattle association cautiously optimistic of Biden administration's commitment to tackle climate change

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) of the United States has expressed satisfaction with the Joe Biden administration's commitment to work with the agriculture industry on climate change solutions.

NCBA's Ethan Lane said US cattle producers have been taking steps to reduce their environmental impact for years.

"Even doing just what we're doing today and we change nothing, we're already trending in a positive direction with a really small carbon footprint," he said. "With some assistance through some different voluntary programmes and incentives to encourage producers to do more in a way that makes sense and keeps them profitable – we think that's fantastic."

Lane added that NCBA is cautiously optimistic, but if the administration proceeds with Executive Orders without incorporating agriculture as part of the solution – there could be cause for concerns.

He cited the '30 by 30' Executive Order, which the US President committed to protect 30% of US land and oceans by 2030.

"My concerns and the concern of producers, particularly in the west, when they hear 30% conservation of land is – "well, you're going to achieve that by getting cattle off the land"," he explained.  "The Biden administration was clear… that that was not their intent with this."

Lane said NCBA appreciates the opportunity to be part of the conversation and will aggressively advocate for policies that US cattle producers need to be successful.

- Brownfield Ag News