In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Adam Putnam, CEO of Ducks Unlimited after he presented a keynote address at the General Assembly Meeting of the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Putnam contends strong partnerships between conservation groups and cattle producers are creating real opportunities for both agriculture and wildlife.
A “Win-Win” for Ranchers and Wildlife
Putnam, a fifth-generation rancher, says the connection between cattle production and conservation is already well established on working lands.
“It’s 100% a win win,” Putnam said. “I’m a fifth generation rancher myself. I know how good the stewardship ethic is on America’s ranches. I know that what’s good for the herd is good for the bird and a whole lot of other wildlife as well.”
He emphasized that collaboration across the supply chain is becoming increasingly important as sustainability expectations grow.
“The opportunity for this roundtable to share the knowledge of the producer all the way up the supply chain is incredibly important, as they’re under greater pressure to deliver on sustainability.”
Why Real-World Perspective Matters
Putnam made it clear that meaningful progress starts with understanding what producers face on the ground—not from a distance.
“It really begins with communication and getting out there and having people get their boots dirty and see what these producers are going through,” he said. “Not just have somebody from New York or Minneapolis or Chicago dictating policy when they’ve never set foot on a ranch or been in a feed lot or a stockyard.”
He added that successful collaboration depends on identifying practical opportunities.
“You have to see exactly what these producers are going through and what their pressure points are, and know where the low hanging fruit is… and where we’re asking them to do something that’s just impossible to deliver.”
Partnerships on the Land
From wetlands protection to grazing systems, Putnam says Ducks Unlimited is finding common ground with cattle producers across different regions.
“Partnerships on protecting wetlands, partnerships on easements where it makes sense for that rancher in high-growth states… protecting that land from development,” he said.
In prairie regions, he noted that conservation and cattle production often go hand in hand.
“Where we have healthy grazing lands, grasslands, rangelands, you have healthy duck populations,” Putnam said. “There’s tremendous opportunities for us to expand our work with the beef industry.”
Addressing Avian Influenza Through Habitat
Putnam also highlighted the organization’s focus on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and how habitat plays a role in managing its spread.
“We track HPAI very closely, and we’re investing in some additional science and monitoring of that that I think the ag industry will benefit from,” he said.
One key strategy is reducing bird concentration through better habitat distribution.
“One of the ways to limit and manage the spread of HPAI is to have abundant habitat that allows birds to spread out,” Putnam explained. “You really see a big problem… where you have a heavy concentration of birds in one spot.”
He believes advancements in tracking could improve response efforts.
“If we can watch a hurricane born off the coast of Africa and know where it’s going to hit a week later, it seems like we could use some better technology to track HPAI.”
Shared Values Between Hunters and Ranchers
Putnam says the roots of Ducks Unlimited—founded by hunters—align closely with the values of farmers and ranchers.
“We’re proud of our waterfowling heritage and the fact that hunters are investing in conservation… so their kids and grandkids can hunt,” he said.
He sees that same long-term mindset in agriculture.
“It’s identical to farmers who are working the land… raising livestock on the land, and doing it in a way that is healthy, so that their children and grandchildren have the opportunities to do the same.”
That overlap continues to strengthen relationships in rural America.
“The Venn Diagram of hunters and farmers and ranchers is a pretty clean one,” Putnam said. “It is all about building trust and relationships… being able to sit on the tailgate and identify ways that we can support them and enhance their profitability by also improving wildlife outcomes.”
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR above for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
