Idaho Ranchers Share the Message That Idaho Beef is Raised Right, Here.

Consumers are seeing and hearing all sorts of things regarding cattle’s impact on the earth’s carbon levels and as the adage goes, if you don’t tell your own story, someone else will tell it for you. So, to combat misinformation and share beef’s positive sustainability stories, Idaho cattle ranchers, Bill Lickley, Trish Dowton, Robert and Linda Rider and Liz Woods agreed to share their stories to educate consumers across the state (and surrounding region) by submitting letters to the editor as part of NCBA's reputation management efforts around Climate Week NYC and the U.N. Food Systems Summit in late September.

The Spokesman-Review

"Our goal is to effectively manage the ranch and natural resources so we can pass them on to the next generation in even better condition. Our cattle graze on land that is hilly and heavily treed, so proper forest management is central to our conservation efforts. We keep space between trees and plant grass seed in open areas, which maintains forest health and provides forage for both cattle and native wildlife." - Robert and Linda Rider of Coeur d’Alene, ID

Idaho Falls Post Register

"Sustainability is at the forefront of what we do each day. Our grasslands remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Our cattle grazing practices accelerate the process of carbon storage in the soil, reducing the carbon footprint and increasing the soil’s capacity to hold water so the land is more drought-tolerant and wildfire resistant." - Trish Dowton of Ellis, ID

Idaho Press Tribune

 “Our improved soil quality promotes the growth of diverse plant and habitat of wildlife species. By understanding the symbiotic needs of these living systems, we create an optimal environment for our cattle while enriching the natural ecosystems, leaving the land better than we found it.” – Bill Lickley of Jerome, ID 

These publications reach thousands of consumers and help to tell Idaho’s beef production story with examples of the many ways Idaho producers are raising beef sustainably. So far six publications have published letters, reaching 1.7 million consumers. Across the beef industry supply chain, there are many opportunities to share your expertise to help consumers gain a clearer understanding of the ways cattle are a big part of the solution to climate concerns. Find resources and information to help you pass the message on at IDBeef.org / Raising Beef.