Every Monday, some groups urge Americans to skip meat in the name of “helping the planet.” But here’s the truth: U.S. beef production is NOT the environmental problem it’s often made out to be. These campaigns rely on global averages that don’t reflect how responsibly and efficiently beef is raised in the United States.
When we look at the facts, it becomes clear: ranchers in America produce beef in one of the most efficient and sustainable systems in the world—and that’s something to support, not cut back.
Methane: A Natural Cycle, Not New Pollution
Cattle emit methane, but what many don’t realize is that this methane is part of a natural carbon cycle.
Methane breaks down in about 12 years and returns to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, which is absorbed by plants. The same grasses cattle eat pull that carbon back in, creating a closed loop.
That’s very different from fossil fuels. Burning coal, oil, or gas releases carbon that has been locked underground for millions of years. That carbon adds to the atmosphere with no natural way to cycle it back quickly.
Thanks to modern breeding, nutrition, and animal care, U.S. beef production is more efficient than ever. Greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of beef are down 34% since the 1970s, and all beef cattle in the U.S. account for just about 3.7% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions—a fraction compared to transportation and energy (USDA ARS; EPA).
Land Use: No Forests Being Cleared
Beef production is often blamed for deforestation—but not in the United States. Here, cattle graze on established pastures and rangelands, not newly cleared forests. Much of this land is unsuitable for crops, making cattle a valuable way to produce food from landscapes that would otherwise go unused.
In fact, U.S. ranchers produce 20% more beef today using 15% fewer cattle than they did 50 years ago (USDA ARS). The deforestation issues tied to beef are happening overseas, especially in South America, where global markets—not U.S. demand—drive forest clearing.
Water Use: Rain, Not Waste
It’s common to hear that beef uses 1,800 gallons of water per pound. But most of that is rainwater that falls naturally on pastures and crops. When we look at actual irrigation and processing water—the kind that matters in water supply planning—U.S. beef uses about 400 to 800 gallons per pound (USGS).
In much of the U.S., cattle feed is grown in rain-fed regions like the Midwest. Many ranches also use byproducts like distillers grains, recycling water and nutrients that would otherwise go to waste.
Wildlife and Healthy Land
Across the country, well-managed cattle grazing plays an important role in preserving open space and native ecosystems.
Many American grasslands evolved with grazing animals, and today, cattle help maintain the health of these landscapes.
In Florida, research from Archbold Biological Station and the University of Florida has shown that moderate grazing helps preserve native plant communities and provides habitat for species like the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow. Grazing helps prevent overgrowth of dense grasses and keeps the land open—conditions many native birds and pollinators rely on (Journal of Wildlife Management, 2021).
These benefits aren’t limited to Florida. From the Great Plains to the Southeast, grazing helps conserve biodiversity and protect land from development or degradation. That’s why many conservation organizations now partner with ranchers—because keeping land in cattle production often means keeping it wild and undeveloped (Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2009).
Storing Carbon in the Soil
Grazing lands also help capture and store carbon in the soil. Studies show that improved grazing practices, like rotational grazing, can increase soil carbon levels and enhance soil health. A recent study published in Nature Food found that U.S. grazing lands could sequester up to 58 million tons of carbon dioxide annually with improved practices—offsetting a large portion of beef-related emissions (Nature Food, 2024).
This means that with good land management, beef production can actually support environmental goals like climate mitigation and soil conservation.
The Bottom Line
The idea that eating less beef in the U.S. will solve environmental problems is not supported by facts. American ranchers already raise beef with some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water demands in the world. Unlike other parts of the globe, our beef system isn’t driving deforestation or harming biodiversity.
In reality, U.S. ranchers are stewards of the land, working hard to produce a safe, wholesome, and nutritious product while protecting open spaces, wildlife, and natural resources.
Thanks for reading this edition of Know Your Beef. Be sure to join us next month as we explore more facts about your food and the people who raise it. Have questions or ideas for a future topic? Email us at bccarlis@ufl.edu.
Sources:
- USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=402563
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): epa.gov
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): usgs.gov
- Nature Food, 2024: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-024-01031-9
- Archbold Biological Station / UF-IFAS research on grazing and biodiversity in Florida: archbold-station.org, ifas.ufl.edu
- Journal of Wildlife Management (2021). “Grazing maintains habitat for the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow in dry prairie ecosystems.” Research by Archbold Biological Station and University of Florida.
- Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (2009). “Does grazing enhance soil carbon sequestration in western North American rangelands?” Research by USDA-ARS and Colorado State University.
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