Beef Buzz News
Faculty Member Targets Beef Sustainability in Research, Teaching at OSU
Thu, 03 Oct 2013 12:49:22 CDT
Sara Place is one of the newer faculty members at Oklahoma State University. She is an assistant professor of animal science and is an expert in beef sustainability. Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays talked with her recently about her research.
"My position is in sustainable beef cattle systems, so I have a teaching and research appointment here at Oklahoma State University. I've been here since February.
"In terms of what I hope to contribute and research is framing the questions and the discussion about what is animal agriculture's environmental impact, making sure that we focus on how we contribute to the economy and how we contribute to feeding the world and feeding Oklahomans and feeding the United States."
Sustainability is a buzzword used more and more often these days and it can be misused as well.
"The word, in general, is really multifaceted. It is something that different people have many definitions for," Place says.
"For me, it really comes down to the economics, the environmental impacts and the social issues all surrounding sustainability. For an individual producer in Oklahoma, first of all you have to be able to stay in business-that long-term business viability. You have to be able to pass your business on to the next generation, be it family or otherwise. You have to have responsibility to your community and to your animals as well as thinking about your environmental impact.
"So, a lot of those things are items that are already on the agenda for the majority of producers. They are thinking about the long term. In terms of agriculture in general, we're an industry that's thinking about the long-term. So, a lot of those items come back to sustainability even though they haven't been defined as such in the past."
Place says she is a disciple of the research of Dr. Frank Mitloehner of the University of California at Davis. She says the research is showing there is a good story to tell about the beef industry when it comes to its impact on the environment.
"Sustainability really is about how we're going to feed the world in the future. And we have been doing a great job and getting better in the United States, both just broadly for animal agriculture and the beef industry. So, we've reduce our carbon footprint in the United States since the 70s and we're only about 3.4 percent, in terms of livestock agriculture in general, of the CO2 equivalent emissions in the United States. So that is a positive story to tell."
Place says she believes one of the things producers can do to improve sustainability is learn how to tell the story about how well the agriculture industry in the U.S. is doing in the realm of sustainably in providing the food and fiber the world needs. She says animal agriculture can be particularly proud of the progress that it's made.
"We're not perfect, but you can continue to get better. And that, hopefully, through research and extending that knowledge, we can continue to improve and have that long-term goal of 'Hey, we're all in this together and we're trying to feed the world and trying to do right by the planet, do right by our animals and community.' And that's the positive story to tell."
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Sara Place talks with Ron Hays about her research in beef sustainability at OSU.
right-click to download mp3
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Beef News
January Cattle on Feed Report Three Percent Under Year Ago- Derrell Peel Says Tighter Supplies Will Be Around for Awhile Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:15:04 CST
Derrell Peel Talks Latest Cattle on Feed Report- Showing Fewer Cattle on Feed, Lighter Placements and Stronger Marketings. Mon, 26 Dec 2022 08:19:00 CST
Kara Lee with Certified Angus Beef Tells Cattlemen 'Cut the Bull' Fri, 23 Dec 2022 14:30:39 CST
Beef Checkoff Utilizes Digital Marketing Techniques to Interact with Consumers Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:02:51 CST
Beef Checkoff Research, Education, and Promotion Efforts Point Consumers to Beef Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:15:46 CST
OSU Economist Derrell Peel Expects US Beef Export Strength to Continue Into the New Year Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:00:35 CST
NPPC's Michael Formica Feeling Positive About Supreme Courts Upcoming Proposition 12 Decision Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:08:27 CST
NCBA Fights to Improve Marketing Options for Cattle Producers Fri, 02 Dec 2022 09:58:28 CST
Chinese Consumers Continue to Grow Appetite for U.S. Beef Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:23:49 CST
Merck Creates Value for Producers and Consumers with Technology and Biopharmaceuticals Wed, 30 Nov 2022 09:55:28 CST
NCBA’s Todd Wilkinson Ready to Fight Back Against Regulatory Overreach in the Cattle Industry Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:13:33 CST
NCBA and PLC Call ESA Listing Plan of Lesser Prairie Chicken Punitive for Cattle Producers in Southern Plains Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:51:02 CST
November Cattle on Feed Report Confirms October Pattern of Lower Placements and Tighter Cattle Numbers in Feedlots Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:07:02 CST
Turning the Corner- OSU's Derrell Peel Sees Tighter Cattle Inventories into 2023 in Latest Cattle on Feed Report Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:36:33 CST
Turning the Corner- OSU's Derrell Peel Sees Tighter Cattle Inventories into 2023 in Latest Cattle on Feed Report Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:27:40 CST
Midterm Elections to Set Stage for What Can Be Expected in 2023 Farm Bill Mon, 07 Nov 2022 12:13:57 CST
USMEF's Dan Halstrom Remains Cautiously Optimistic about Strong Beef Demand Going Forward Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:35:46 CDT
Economic Factors Create Hesitancy in Beef Plant Expansion Plans Wed, 02 Nov 2022 11:03:34 CDT
NCBA's Mike Simone Says Consumer Interest in Fake Meat is on the Decline Tue, 01 Nov 2022 11:41:02 CDT
Beef Remains Valued Product for Consumers as it Allows Them to Stretch their Dollar Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:15:56 CDT
Hugh Aljoe Provides Methods to Begin and Maintain Good Land Stewardship Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:30:13 CDT
Implement Soil Health Practices Now to Increase Forage Production when Rains Come Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:14:07 CDT
Third Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 Promotes the Beef Industry on a National Level Wed, 26 Oct 2022 15:32:23 CDT
Latest Cattle on Feed Report from USDA Implies Fewer Pounds of Beef Available in 2023 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:17:53 CDT
OSU's Derrell Peel- Lower Placements and Smaller On Feed Number Highlight October Cattle on Feed Report Sun, 23 Oct 2022 12:45:37 CDT
Beef Checkoff Research Continues to Share Beef Sustainability Story with Consumers Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:23:36 CDT
Beef Checkoff Research Works to Ensure Consumers Beef is a Product They Can Trust Thu, 20 Oct 2022 13:44:44 CDT
Odds for Significant Wheat Pasture Going Lower Daily in the Southern Plains Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:35:46 CDT
NCBA Weighs in on California's Proposition 12 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 11:32:24 CDT
2022 Stockyards Steak Out Takes Oklahoma Beef to the Next Level Mon, 17 Oct 2022 11:09:07 CDT
Holding Onto Your Cow Herd a Little Longer is Projected to Pay Off, says Randy Blach Fri, 14 Oct 2022 08:14:05 CDT
Randy Blach Confident in Better Cattle Market Conditions Down the Road Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:43:02 CDT
No Imports or Exports Would Result in a Smaller U.S. Beef Cattle Industry Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:11:15 CDT
Derrell Peel Explains Why International Trade of Beef is Valuable Tue, 11 Oct 2022 08:19:29 CDT
Animal Agriculture Hopeful for a Win as U.S. Supreme Court Looks at California's Proposition 12 Mon, 10 Oct 2022 09:26:17 CDT