Iowa Beef Center director column
March 2022
Refining Sustainability
Yes, you read that right. The title is refining sustainability rather than defining sustainability. There is a lot of buzz around this topic in the ag media, national meetings and the food value system. I think most have settled on some combination of economic viability, environmental stewardship and social acceptability as the definition. The factors that contribute to sustainability have and will change with the times, however. While the word “sustainability” may not have been a daily part of my grandfather’s vocabulary, his conservation and land ethic was evident. Having farmed through the 1930’s soil conservation, “leaving the farm better than you found it” was top of mind for him. In the 1980’s ag sustainability was focused on reducing pesticide and chemical use. This was the basis of the founding of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
The point here is that the focus of sustainability has changed and will change depending on conditions—economic, social and environmental. I was at a recent panel of beef sustainability experts and the question was posed, “What is the difference between sustainability and stewardship?” Your first thought might be that they are one and the same. I would argue that stewardship is a process. This is what you do every day to care for the animals, the land and the people. And sustainability is an outcome. It is not a goal which suggests that once you get there you have reached the end. It is a continual outcome that will continue to change and evolve.
I hope you will look to the Iowa Beef Center to keep you up to date with information on stewardship related resources. While the media tends to focus on the environmental side of beef sustainability, recent survey results indicate that consumers think first about animal care and welfare when asked what sustainability in beef means to them. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification is a way for you to be updated on good practices on the farm that help ensure good animal care, beef safety and wholesomeness. Check the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) BQA page regularly for a session near you (https://www.iabeef.org/cattlemens-corner/iowa-bqa). BQA events are hosted by the Iowa Beef Center team through a cooperative arrangement with the IBIC.
March is calving season for many of you. If you are looking for an update or refresher on calving preparation and management be sure and check out our calving management online manual (https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/calvingmanagement.html). Also, we still have calving books available. Contact us if you would like one for your operation.
We are just wrapping up a meeting series on cattle marketing. Featured was information on new USDA reports, an update on risk management products available and a new fact sheet on feedlot benchmarking. Look for information on these topics on the Ag Decision Maker website.
Finally, on March 17 we will again cohost the biennial “Silage for Beef “conference with the University of Nebraska—Lincoln and Lallemand Animal Nutrition. The event will be held in person at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead, NE and there also will be a virtual option. To register go to https://go.unl.edu/silageforbeef2022. The focus of this year’s conference is small grain silages. As cover crops have gained popularity for water quality, soil health and cattle feed, more producers are adding them into a rotation.
The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use the “Ask our Experts” link on the website. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can also follow @iowabeefcenter on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and now, AgFuse!
