Agricultural News
Scott Yager Says Beef Industry Pushing Back on Green New Deal Plan to Eliminate Cattle Production
Fri, 24 May 2019 10:38:41 CDT
When New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rolled out her Green New Deal, a lot of people were not taking her very seriously. However, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association did take her very seriously, especially her claims that cast dispersions on the beef cattle industry. Scott Yager, chief environmental counsel for NCBA, remarked on the organization's concerns regarding that proposed legislation in a recent conversation with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays.
"When our member saw the fact sheet that was released from her office - the fact sheet that said we could get rid of farting cows in ten years - our association mobilized and our executive committee passed a 2019 policy resolution that said we are opposed to the Green New Deal and other misguided climate policies that negatively impact beef producers," Yager said. "So, NCBA has been very upfront about opposing the Green New Deal, but we've also been using it as a platform to talk about all the really good things our cattle producers are doing in this space."
Yager contends that despite the false information that has been spread lately about the cattle industry's contribution to climate change, beef production is in reality one of the least concerning segments of industry. In fact, the beef industry has done more to proactively reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the last few decades than most other emitting industries. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the US beef cattle industry only accounts for 2 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the country. While beef producers are actually doing all the right things to be responsible environmental stewards and practicing sustainability - the problem is they are just not talking about it, says Yager. But, he adds that is why the NCBA has taken up that mantle to showcase those efforts on its members' behalf and in their defense from activist propaganda.
"In this country, we do it more efficiently and better than any other place in the world. And, we produce a really environmentally safe product. And, we do it with the lowest impact foot print in all the world. And - we're going to keep getting better and better at that," he said. "I think we should be held up as a model of how you do agricultural production in the world. We would get a lot more environmental benefits if other parts of the world did it the same way we do."
Listen to Yager's complete conversation with Hays about the beef industry's stance on the Green New Deal and how that legislation is being countered by NCBA, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is 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.
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