Everyday, I read through my various agriculture publications, hit the hot spots online for latest industry news, and skim through my beef updates sent to me from various sources. It's how I stay up-to-date on the current issues in agriculture. I'm sure you do it too--afterall, there is no better way to find success than knowing what's going on in the world around you. That way we can be proactive instead of reactive.
Lately, the most reoccuring message I have received has been the finger pointing blame from animal rights activists that links cattle production to global warming in the form of methane gasses. While I think this is simply ridiculous, (Click Here to read my other blog entries on the subject) it's always reassuring to find positive information in the media about how cattle production actually helps the environment.
So today, I'll share with you that positive story provided by the Cattle Business Weekly:
Ranching For a Better America by Codi Vallery
In October the practice of ranching had positive reinforcement with the publishing of a new study by Richard Knight of Colorado State University who says ranches are important to maintaining biodiversity in American's West.
The study says since ranching naturally encompasses large amounts of undivided land, involves grazing and altering of native vegetation in modest ways, it lends itself to supporting biodiversity that is of conservation concern.
For the study, Knight, who is a professor in CSU's Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship, observed biodiversity across exurban areas (prosperous areas past the suburbs), ranchlands and protected areas without livestock.
The research found private land and ranches support species of conservation concern and had minimal weed growth. Exurban areas had the same common species available as urban areas and had a greater weed population.
Link here to read the rest of the story.
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