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NCBA SLAMS PCRM COMPLAINT The Midwest Cattleman · September 30, 2021 · P14
“NCBA… WILL NOT BE SILENCED BY ANIMAL EXTREMISTS
WHO PRETEND TO BE DOCTORS.” BIDEN
By NCBA continued from page 3
NCBA, working as a con- in the U.S., according to the has a higher heat-trapping po- "We are proud of the U.S.
tractor to the Beef Check- EPA.1 And according to tential than CO2, but it breaks cattle industry's track record
off, recently developed a USDA and the UN FAO, the down in the atmosphere fast- of continual innovation to
campaign to transparent- U.S. has produced the most er, so “strong, rapid and sus- improve environmental out-
ly share the beef industry’s sustainable beef in the world tained reductions” in methane comes, and we are committed
science-based sustainability for decades and has reduced emissions in addition to slash- to writing the next chapter in
story and connect consum- emissions per pound of beef ing CO2 emissions can have a that history of stewardship
ers with facts about how by 40% since the 1960s.2, All climate impact quickly. with the voluntary, indus-
their beef is raised. Part of of this information is scien- Reuters reported that a try-led goal of demonstrating
this campaign included very tifically vetted and publicly separate document listed over climate neutrality by 2040,"
successful ads in Wall Street available.3 two dozen countries the U.S. said NCBA Vice President of
Journal, New York Times and PCRM’s attack on these and the EU will target to join Government Affairs Ethan
Washington Post. ads conflates global data with the pledge. They include major Lane. "We’ve engaged with the
The campaign reached U.S. numbers and ignores emitters such as China, Rus- Biden administration since
millions of consumers and the growing body of evidence sia, India, Brazil and Saudi day one to ensure the U.S. cat-
inspired curious readers to that beef is not only an im- Arabia, as well as others in- tle industry is recognized for
learn more. Unsurprising- portant part of a sustainable cluding Norway, Qatar, Brit- our strong record of environ-
ly, the campaign also led to food system in the U.S., but ain, New Zealand and South mental stewardship and that
mudslinging from animal ac- also nourishes the land it’s Africa. our voice, and our priorities,
tivist groups who must grasp raised on through carbon se- America’s cattle industry is are heard loud and clear. The
at straws because they know questration, wildlife habitat watching closely as the Biden administration cannot ac-
that less than 5% of the U.S. preservation and more.4 administration takes steps to complish lasting conservation
population claim to be vege- Physicians Committee for rein in climate change. Specif- without the buy-in of cattle
tarian. Responsible Medicine’s cri- ically, cattlemen object to their producers."
Physicians Committee tiques are not only baseless carbon footprint being equat- NCBA’s statement said cat-
for Responsible Medicine and inaccurate but also try to ed with those from other coun- tle emit methane when they
(PCRM) recently petitioned scare media from sharing im- tries. digest their food. This hap-
both USDA and the Federal portant stories and suppress Frank Mitloehner, profes- pens due to the cow's special-
Trade Commission, suggest- information that consum- sor and air quality expert at ized ruminant digestive sys-
ing our ads downplayed cat- ers deserve to know. NCBA the University of California at tem, which allows cattle to
tle’s role in the environment. stands by this campaign and Davis, says that while it’s true consume grasses which grow
PCRM masquerades as med- will not be silenced by ani- cattle are the number 1 agri- on marginal land that would
ical authorities, despite the mal extremists who pretend cultural source of GHGs glob- be otherwise unusable for
fact that fewer than 10% of to be doctors. ally, it’s a different story in growing food. The gas breaks
PCRM’s members are actual- 1.EPA. 2021. Inventory of U.S. the U.S. Research suggests on down in the atmosphere in
ly physicians. PCRM, which Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: a global scale, cattle account 9-12 years, is sequestered in
acts as a front for animal 1990-2019. U.S. Environmental Protec- for 14.5% of emissions. In the soil and grasses, and then con-
rights extremists, has zero tion Agency, Washington, D.C. U.S., however, ruminants ac- sumed by ruminant animals
2.USDA-NASS Quick Stats Tools.
expertise in sustainability. Available at: https://quickstats.nass. count for just 4% of all GHGs as part of a natural grazing
Their sole aim is to pedal usda.gov/results/3AC161F7-F361- and beef cattle are responsible cycle.
plant-based diets. More than 3A66-9B6C-2E1220FEBF52?piv- for just 2% of direct emissions. In recent years, GWP100
that, PCRM has been linked ot=short_desc News of Biden’s endorse- — the default method for cal-
with PETA and even with 3.U.N. Food and Agriculture Organi- ment of the Global Methane culating greenhouse gas emis-
groups that the FBI has des- zation. FAOSTAT Database – Food and Pledge drew a response from sions — has come under crit-
agricultural data. Available at: http://
ignated as domestic terror- www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home the National Cattlemen’s Beef icism in the global scientific
ists. 4.Taylor, DT, et al. 2019. National Association (NCBA) which community for failing to accu-
PCRM’s questionable rep- and State Economic Values of Cattle urged the administration to rately account for the impact
utation aside, the facts and Ranching and Farming Based Ecosys- maintain an open dialog with of short-lived emissions like
science are on beef’s side. tem Services in the U.S. University of experts in agriculture. methane, NCBA said. GWP*
Just as the ads cited, beef Wyoming Extension B-1338. In a statement, NCBA said is gaining support among sci-
cattle only account for 2% to achieve the goal of reduc- entists as a more appropriate
of greenhouse gas emissions ing methane emissions by measure of methane's actual
one-third by 2030, the admin- effect on the climate. NCBA
istration will need the volun- has long advocated for the use
tary participation, scientific of the most up-to-date science
research and practical knowl- and data as the foundation of
edge of U.S. cattle produc- federal climate policy. As the
ers. NCBA said the industry GWP* methodology is adopted
stands ready to continue lead- around the globe, NCBA sup-
ing the American agricultural ports the United States' ad-
community — and the rest of aptation of its policy to reflect
the world — on responsible re- the best available science.
source management. The administration has not an-
Last month, NCBA an- nounced any policies or directives to re-
nounced it will work to demon- strict beef consumption in the United
strate climate neutrality for States.
the cattle industry by 2040. Drovers