[House Hearing, 117 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




 
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR: ENVIRONMENTAL GAIN AND ECONOMIC
                               VIABILITY

=======================================================================

                                HEARING

                               BEFORE THE

           SUBCOMMITTEE ON LIVESTOCK AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURE

                                 OF THE

                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                    ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                             SECOND SESSION

                               __________

                            FEBRUARY 3, 2022

                               __________

                           Serial No. 117-28
                           
                           
                           
                           
 [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]                          
                           
                           


          Printed for the use of the Committee on Agriculture
                         agriculture.house.gov
                         
                         
                         
                          ______                       


             U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
48-643PDF             WASHINGTON : 2022 
                         
                         
                         


                        COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

                     DAVID SCOTT, Georgia, Chairman

JIM COSTA, California                GLENN THOMPSON, Pennsylvania, 
JAMES P. McGOVERN, Massachusetts     Ranking Minority Member
FILEMON VELA, Texas                  AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia
ALMA S. ADAMS, North Carolina, Vice  ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD, 
Chair                                Arkansas
ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER, Virginia   SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee
JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut            VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri
ANTONIO DELGADO, New York            DOUG LaMALFA, California
SHONTEL M. BROWN, Ohio               RODNEY DAVIS, Illinois
BOBBY L. RUSH, Illinois              RICK W. ALLEN, Georgia
CHELLIE PINGREE, Maine               DAVID ROUZER, North Carolina
GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN,      TRENT KELLY, Mississippi
Northern Mariana Islands             DON BACON, Nebraska
ANN M. KUSTER, New Hampshire         DUSTY JOHNSON, South Dakota
CHERI BUSTOS, Illinois               JAMES R. BAIRD, Indiana
SEAN PATRICK MALONEY, New York       JIM HAGEDORN, Minnesota
STACEY E. PLASKETT, Virgin Islands   CHRIS JACOBS, New York
TOM O'HALLERAN, Arizona              TROY BALDERSON, Ohio
SALUD O. CARBAJAL, California        MICHAEL CLOUD, Texas
RO KHANNA, California                TRACEY MANN, Kansas
AL LAWSON, Jr., Florida              RANDY FEENSTRA, Iowa
J. LUIS CORREA, California           MARY E. MILLER, Illinois
ANGIE CRAIG, Minnesota               BARRY MOORE, Alabama
JOSH HARDER, California              KAT CAMMACK, Florida
CYNTHIA AXNE, Iowa                   MICHELLE FISCHBACH, Minnesota
KIM SCHRIER, Washington              JULIA LETLOW, Louisiana
JIMMY PANETTA, California
SANFORD D. BISHOP, Jr., Georgia

                                 ______

                      Anne Simmons, Staff Director

                 Parish Braden, Minority Staff Director

                                 ______

           Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture

                    JIM COSTA, California, Chairman

ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER, Virginia   DUSTY JOHNSON, South Dakota, 
JAHANA HAYES, Connecticut            Ranking Minority Member
J. LUIS CORREA, California           SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee
JOSH HARDER, California              VICKY HARTZLER, Missouri
RO KHANNA, California                DAVID ROUZER, North Carolina
CYNTHIA AXNE, Iowa                   TRENT KELLY, Mississippi
BOBBY L. RUSH, Illinois              DON BACON, Nebraska
STACEY E. PLASKETT, Virgin Islands   JAMES R. BAIRD, Indiana
ANGIE CRAIG, Minnesota               JIM HAGEDORN, Minnesota
SANFORD D. BISHOP, Jr., Georgia      TRACEY MANN, Kansas
------                               RANDY FEENSTRA, Iowa
                                     BARRY MOORE, Alabama

              Daniel Feingold, Subcommittee Staff Director

                                  (ii)
                                  
                             C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
Costa, Hon. Jim, a Representative in Congress from California, 
  opening statement..............................................     1
    Prepared statement...........................................     3
    Submitted letter on behalf of Lotanna Obodozie, Climate 
      Campaign Director; David Howard, Co-Policy Director, 
      National Young Farmers Coalition...........................    63
Johnson, Hon. Dusty, a Representative in Congress from South 
  Dakota, opening statement......................................     4
    Submitted article............................................    65
Thompson, Hon. Glenn, a Representative in Congress from 
  Pennsylvania, opening statement................................     5

                               Witnesses

Stackhouse-Lawson, Ph.D., Kimberly R., Director, AgNext and 
  Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State 
  University, Fort Collins, CO...................................     7
    Prepared statement...........................................     8
Burroughs, Rose Marie (Rosie), Producer, Burroughs Family Farms, 
  Denair, CA; on behalf of National Sustainable Agriculture 
  Coalition......................................................    13
    Prepared statement...........................................    14
Medeiros, Melvin, Producer, Medeiros Holsteins; Chairman, Western 
  Area Council, Dairy Farmers of America; Member, Executive 
  Committee, National Milk Producers Federation, Laton, CA.......    19
    Prepared statement...........................................    21
Brackett, Kim, Co-Owner, Brackett Ranches, L.P.; Chair, Beef 
  Industry Long Range Plan, Homedale, ID; on behalf of National 
  Cattlemen's Beef Association...................................    24
    Prepared statement...........................................    26
Meier, Ernie, Chair, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & 
  Egg; Director, Quality Systems, U.S. Supply Chain, McDonald's 
  USA, Chicago, IL...............................................    29
    Prepared statement...........................................    31

                           Submitted Material

Horsfield, Geoff, Government Affairs Manager, Environmental 
  Working Group, submitted statement.............................    66
Potts, Julie Anna, President and Chief Executive Officer North 
  American Meat Institute........................................    70


SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR: ENVIRONMENTAL GAIN AND ECONOMIC

                               VIABILITY

                              ----------                              


                       THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

                  House of Representatives,
         Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture,
                                  Committee on Agriculture,
                                                   Washington, D.C.
    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:01 a.m., via 
Zoom, Hon. Jim Costa [Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding.
    Members present: Representatives Costa, Spanberger, Hayes, 
Harder, Axne, Rush, Plaskett, Craig, Bishop, Pingree, Panetta, 
Johnson, DesJarlais, Hartzler, Bacon, Baird, Mann, Feenstra, 
Moore, Thompson (ex officio), and Fischbach.
    Staff present: Daniel Feingold, Prescott Martin III, Emily 
Pliscott, Caleb Crosswhite, Josh Maxwell, Patricia Straughn, 
Erin Wilson, and Dana Sandman.

   OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JIM COSTA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
                    CONGRESS FROM CALIFORNIA

    The Chairman. Good morning, everyone. Dusty, there you are. 
Ten o'clock hour has arrived, 10:01, to be precise, and the 
Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture will now come 
to order. I think we have a good Subcommittee hearing this 
morning. We have some very talented individuals who have hands-
on experience in production agriculture dealing with 
sustainability, economic sustainability, while improving 
environmental conditions as it relates to their operations, and 
making it pay off. So, as we do with typical Subcommittee 
hearings, after opening remarks, Members will receive testimony 
from our witnesses today, and we will then open it up for 
questions. In consultation with the Ranking Member, Rule XI(e), 
I want to make Members of the Subcommittee aware that other 
Members of the full Committee may join us today, and we welcome 
their participation. And so we look forward to that occurring, 
and the opportunity to get some things done, as we look at the 
challenges facing American agriculture, and issues involving 
American agriculture under these challenging times that we are 
living in. It is important for the Subcommittee to focus on 
this as we prepare not only for this year's legislative agenda, 
but also as we set the table for next year's farm bill. And I, 
in my mind, look at these efforts as all tied in, in one 
fashion or another, and I want to thank the Members of the 
Subcommittee and Members of the full Committee that are 
participating, because it is a good opportunity for us to try 
to maintain the bipartisanship that has always been a hallmark 
of the House Agriculture Committee that I think we are all 
proud of.
    Having said that, let me start by saying good morning. I 
want to thank our witnesses, Ranking Member Johnson, and 
Members of the Subcommittee today, for our opportunity to 
discuss the impacts of climate change, and sustainability in 
the livestock sector. I think many of us have personal 
relationships with constituents that are among the most 
innovative in the livestock community in America. I know I 
certainly do, and I am very proud of those folks that are 
involved and engaged. I do not think we can waver from the 
impacts that climate change is having, with regards to not only 
the air, and the water, and the other important resource issues 
that we consume, but also the impacts worldwide.
    And, as a third-generation farmer, a person that has been 
engaged and seen a lot of changes over the years, I like to say 
that I think farmers, ranchers, dairymen and -women, are among 
the most concerned of stewards of the environment, because the 
whole renewability, and the ability to maintain the 
renewability of that resource, the air, and the water, and the 
land, is essential, critical, to their ability to maintain 
their farming operations. The Biden Administration has rejoined 
the Paris Agreement. I think this is an opportunity for us to 
look on how we work together not only in this country, but 
around the world. That means reducing our carbon footprint, as 
it relates to emissions, in ways that make sense, working with 
industry, and that is part of the reason for this Subcommittee 
hearing, to figure out how we deal with the impacts, and ensure 
that we have measurable outcomes. I can tell you that in 
California we have been doing that for a number of years. I am 
glad that we have some witnesses from California that can share 
their experiences with us today.
    I think we all feel very strongly about agriculture and its 
important role in putting food on America's dinner table every 
night. It is, as I think many of you have heard me say time and 
time again, a national security issue. And I think agriculture, 
certainly the folks that I work with at home, understand that 
the issue of climate change is important. Water, and the 
snowpack that we get in California's mountains are critical to 
our sustainability of having adequate water supply, and yet we 
see increasing changes of our snowpack and our water 
availability. And, of course, a result of that, in part, are 
the horrific fires that we have had to address in California. 
But like all farmers, I am an optimist. I think you have to be 
an optimist if you are a farmer, a rancher, or a dairyman or -
woman, and I think the flipside of the value of these 
challenges we face is that agriculture can, and is, making a 
meaningful contribution toward reducing and offsetting 
emissions.
    Today we will hear from producers and others on how they 
have advanced their own operation's sustainability initiatives 
so that we can better understand the challenges on how farmers, 
ranchers, dairymen and -women are coming together to do what 
they can do, certainly when incentives are provided, to impact 
climate change, and what the barriers are, and incentives, that 
we need to factor in to help them in achieving these goals.
    In addition, I think we need to account for the impact: in 
terms of cropping patterns, in terms of availability of water 
resources, in different regions of our country, and throughout 
the world, frankly, that climate change is going to have. There 
are a lot of areas where the sustainability of agriculture 
around the world is going to be very difficult in semi-arid 
regions because of a lack of water. And so we all have a 
responsibility here. I mean, deteriorating conditions have some 
example in grazing lands, impacts our livestock producers. I 
have family that farms on the West Coast ranged mountains of 
California, and when they look at 10 year averages, and the 
amount of precipitation they get to grow those grasses to feed 
their cattle, it becomes a very difficult challenge, in terms 
of the amount of years that they can count on enough feed to 
make that operation work.
    So that only puts a further strain on our food production. 
I think the panel that we have here is an impressive caliber of 
knowledge on what is being done to build sustainability in our 
livestock system. I know the two individuals from California 
certainly have a lot of experience there. I look forward to a 
productive discussion with Members of the Subcommittee so that 
we can work together in a collaborative fashion, in a 
bipartisan fashion, with our livestock producers to scale up 
adoption of climate-smart practices.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Costa follows:]

Prepared Statement of Hon. Jim Costa, a Representative in Congress from 
                               California
    Good morning. Thank you to our witnesses, Ranking Member Johnson, 
and the Members of the Subcommittee for convening today to discuss 
climate change, sustainability, and the livestock sector. Climate 
change is a global problem, and we cannot waver in our commitment to 
addressing it. The Biden Administration has rejoined the Paris 
Agreement and the opportunity is before us to actually deliver on our 
commitments to this important climate agreement. This means reducing 
emissions in a meaningful way, working with industry to make an impact, 
and ensuring measurable outcomes.
    Agriculture has an important role to play in addressing climate 
change, and it is critical that we acknowledge that, while agriculture 
delivers tremendous value to society, it does so at a cost to the 
climate. But like all farmers, I am an optimist, and I believe that the 
flip side of the value proposition that I just described is that 
agriculture is positioned to make a meaningful contribution toward 
reducing and offsetting emissions.
    Today we will hear from producers, and others working to advance 
sustainability initiatives, so that we can better understand how 
farmers are coming together to combat climate change, what work lies 
ahead, and the barriers and incentives that factor into these efforts.
    In addition, it is vital that we account for the impact that global 
warming will have on agriculture as it impacts different regions of our 
nation in different ways. We have already seen staggering drought this 
year with Lake Mead, a critical water resource in the West, reaching 
its lowest level since being filled, and I am concerned that conditions 
will only deteriorate further if we don't take steps to mitigate 
greenhouse gas emissions now.
    Deteriorating conditions will not only affect the grazing land that 
our livestock producers need, they will also impact crops that are used 
to supply feed for our livestock, and will lead to water shortages that 
constrict herd sizes. These conditions will put further strain on food 
production.
    This panel contains an impressive caliber of knowledge on what is 
being done to build a more sustainable livestock system, and what steps 
we still need to bridge to a more climate-smart future. I look forward 
to a productive discussion on how we can work together to combat 
climate change and incentivize our livestock producers to scale-up 
adoption of climate-smart practices.
    Before the introduction of our witnesses, I'd like to recognize the 
Ranking Member, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, for any remarks he'd like 
to make.

    The Chairman. So I would like to introduce my friend and 
colleague, Ranking Member Dusty Johnson from South Dakota, for 
any remarks that he would like to make at this time.

 OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DUSTY JOHNSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
                   CONGRESS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

    Mr. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank 
you and your team also for how collaborative you are in the 
lead-up to these hearings. I want to echo what you said about 
this being an impressive panel, and I am looking forward to 
hearing from these knowledgeable and solutions-focused experts. 
But let us be clear, there are threats because there are less 
knowledgeable and less solutions-focused people who are sharing 
their views in other venues.
    I was disappointed earlier this week to see the New York 
Times had an opinion piece titled, and I am not making this up, 
Meet The People Getting Paid To Kill Our Planet.* And the 
opinion piece made sweeping, inaccurate statements about 
American agriculture. The piece seemed oblivious to the kind of 
progress that we are making as a country. The piece was 
terrible, and it was made worse by the fact that some Members 
of Congress, including Senator Corey Booker, cooperated with 
the project. So let us be clear, because the facts are not in 
dispute. In recent decades the U.S. beef industry has reduced 
net emissions by more than 40 percent, and so net emissions 
from U.S. beef production are ten times lower than net 
emissions in other parts of the world. Additionally, U.S. 
ranchers are producing the same amount of beef today as they 
did in 1977 with 33 percent fewer animals, and, of course, less 
land being used as well. And farm productivity was 287 percent 
greater in 2017 than it was in 1948. I mean, that is just 
incredible, 287 percent greater.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    * Editor's note: the article is located on p. 65.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    And so, Mr. Chairman, you are exactly right. The American 
farmer, the American rancher, they are producing more with 
less. They have made the United States the most efficient 
producer of food and fiber in the world. And, Mr. Chairman, 
that environmental progress will continue because of the 
solutions being worked on by the witnesses on our panel today, 
as well as progress being made by others. And those solutions 
are coming in many forms. I would call out one, precision 
ranching technologies being developed by South Dakota State 
University, and the Western Research and Extension Center, and 
this is a neat project. I mean, they are deploying a series of 
precision measuring technologies in Phillips, South Dakota.
    So what do they do? They are using GPS, they are using 
precision scales, to track individual cattle location, and 
weight, on a daily basis. And these tools also allow producers 
to manage grazing rotations with a smartphone. And so, 
collectively, these tools are giving us unprecedented insight 
into the grazing practices of these cattle, what they are 
eating, what that means for weight gain, and what that means 
for food quality and sustainability. This is an incredibly fun 
project, and it is an important one as well.
    And so I would just close by saying this, Mr. Chairman. A 
better, more sustainable future will not come from the harsh, 
scolding voices of the naysayers. It is going to come from the 
leadership and innovation of people like the researchers at 
SDSU and our witnesses today. I am looking forward to the 
discussion, and with that, I yield back.
    The Chairman. I want to thank my friend and colleague from 
South Dakota for making those points. I could not agree with 
you more. The collaborative and the constructive efforts on 
behalf of American agriculture on a region-by-region basis I 
think has been significant. Yes, we can do more, and that is 
part of the purpose of this Subcommittee hearing. The fact is 
that American agriculture does more with less, as the numbers 
you have stated, substantially, and yes, we have challenges out 
there, but the fact is that nobody, in so many different ways, 
on a region-by-region basis, is trying their very best to 
implement best on-site farm management practices that will 
ultimately produce results. But there is more, obviously, that 
we can and should do.
    As is the common courtesy of this Subcommittee, and other 
subcommittees, we always recognize, when we hold a Subcommittee 
hearing, the Chair and the Ranking Member of the full 
Committee, if, in fact, they are participating, and they wish 
to make a comment. Maintaining that tradition, my friend from 
Pennsylvania, Mr. G.T. Thompson, is here this morning, 
participating with us, and I would yield him an opportunity to 
make any comments that he may choose to make. Representative 
Thompson?

 OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. GLENN THOMPSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
                   CONGRESS FROM PENNSYLVANIA

    Mr. Thompson. Well, good morning, Mr. Chairman, thank you 
so much. Ranking Member Johnson, thank you both for this 
hearing. I certainly want to align myself with the comments 
that have been made here. American agriculture, from the very 
beginnings, has always been science, technology, and 
innovation, but that means that we are not static. We are 
dynamic, with incredible opportunities ahead. Although, it has 
always been science, technology, innovation, the rate of 
innovation today is happening exponentially. It is very 
exciting. Very exciting for America, and certainly for our work 
together in the Agriculture Committee. I also would like to 
thank each of our witnesses for their participation today.
    As you have heard previously, U.S. farm productivity and 
management practices have improved dramatically over the past 
70 years. Specifically productivity increased 287 percent, 
while the inputs and land use have remained relatively 
unchanged. Quite frankly, we've used less land, and sadly, 
we've seen acreage go out of agriculture production. In short, 
we are producing much more food and fiber, while using maybe 
the same amount, but I would argue less resources than we did 
generations ago. I believe this is something that is not talked 
about enough. U.S. producers are the shining star when it comes 
to resiliency, sustainability, and to summarize that, if you 
would prefer, with the word climate. Agriculture is the 
solution; it is not the problem. It is research, innovation, 
and technology.
    Now, just as they have been for the past 70 years, 
innovation and research have to remain at the forefront of 
these efforts moving forward, certainly at the forefront of our 
efforts as a Committee. From biotechnology, to promising new 
livestock feed ingredients, to precision agriculture, and new 
cropping systems, support for development and adoption of 
innovative products and practices will be critical to ensure 
farmers have the tools necessary to continue sustainability 
enhancing productivity.
    Now, policies from Washington should acknowledge the 
agriculture sector's success, and contributions that we make to 
sustainability and climate, environment, the economy, and build 
upon it by focusing on the efforts to voluntarily do more, 
ultimately by incentivizing pro-growth solutions. That is why I 
introduced the SUSTAINS Act (H.R. 2606), which provides an 
opportunity to the private-sector to partner with USDA to 
further engage farmers and ranchers in supporting voluntary 
conservation initiatives. Bipartisan solutions should revolve 
around a commitment to these proven programs, reducing 
bureaucratic red tape, and, ultimately, regulations.
    Now, I fear that the opposite approach, burdensome top-down 
regulations and costly complicated policies will harm rural 
economies, while displacing U.S. production with that of less 
efficient foreign producers. I know that is something that we 
all want to avoid. And I certainly look forward to hearing from 
today's witnesses, and learning more about their voluntary 
initiatives, and thoughtful recommendations. And with that, Mr. 
Chairman, thank you so much for the opportunity to be a part of 
this Subcommittee hearing. I yield back.
    The Chairman. I want to thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania for his comments, and I would like to request that 
Members of the Subcommittee submit their opening statements for 
the record so that witnesses may begin their testimony, and so 
that we can ensure that there is ample time for questions. As 
we have, and some of the witnesses today before us have 
testified before, and I am trying to see if the witnesses have 
it available to them, because it would be more helpful if they 
do, I do not seem to have it on my screen, but this new world 
that we live in and virtual hearings, sometimes makes it 
complicated to participate.
    But there is 5 minutes of time that is allotted for 
everyone's testimony, and, of course, Members are allotted the 
same amount of time for their comments or questions that they 
wish to make when it comes to their turn. So I am pleased to 
welcome our distinguished panel of witnesses here today, as we 
have noted. They bring a wide range of experience and expertise 
around the country on the issues of climate impacts and 
American agriculture, so we thank you all for joining us.
    Our first witness today is Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson. She 
has her Ph.D. as the Director of NextAg, and Professor in 
Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University in 
Fort Collins, Colorado, which is one of America's premier 
universities, and we are very pleased that Dr. Lawson--
Stackhouse-Lawson, excuse me, that you are available today. I 
hope you have the screen available so that you can see, and 
that--you can begin with your comments for 5 minutes, and I 
will try to be appropriate at the time that you are concluded. 
But please begin your presentation for Members of the 
Subcommittee.

 STATEMENT OF KIMBERLY R. STACKHOUSE-LAWSON, Ph.D., DIRECTOR, 
              AgNext AND PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
  ANIMAL SCIENCES, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, FORT COLLINS, CO

    Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. Chairman Costa, Ranking Member 
Johnson, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for 
inviting me to speak today. I am Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, 
Director of AgNext, and a Professor of Animal Science at 
Colorado State University. AgNext is a first of its kind 
research collaborative, focused on sustainable solutions for 
animal agriculture. Sustainability is defined using a three-
pillar approach, social, economic, and environment. Each pillar 
is dependent on the other, and no one pillar is more important. 
Due to the complexity and importance of animal agriculture 
systems, we must consider interactions and potential unintended 
consequences of solutions towards enhanced sustainability.
    By 2050 our planet's population will increase by 2.2 
billion, requiring food production to increase by 70 percent. 
Estimates suggest that animal agriculture production will need 
to increase 100 percent to ensure adequate nutrition to this 
rapidly growing population. Climate change is going to have a 
major impact on our food supply chain. These changes alone are 
going to challenge and require improvements in the adaptive 
capacity and resiliency of our farmers, and ranchers, and rural 
communities. There is no question that this will be the 
greatest challenge of our lifetime. Providing this nutrition, 
and doing so within the bounds of our planetary resources in an 
equitable way, should be our focus.
    The critical nature and timeliness of ensuring food 
security and doubling food production, while also meeting 
sustainability goals, is no small task. In sustainability, 
silver bullets do not exist. We must take a more inclusive and 
systematic approach to ensure we do not solve one problem, and 
create other unintended impacts. It is critical that we develop 
solutions that are place-based, practical for farmers and 
ranchers to adopt, and economically viable.
    Further complicating sustainability is the pace at which it 
is growing in importance. Many leading companies and industries 
have announced aggressive sustainability goals, including net-
zero targets by 2040 and 2050, that will have real and lasting 
impacts on the food system as we know it today. Many countries 
and governments, including the U.S., have made similar 
commitments. While I appreciate the intention and momentum 
behind setting these aggressive targets, the road maps to 
achieve these goals are elusive. More information is needed to 
inform these strategies, namely the development of appropriate 
baselines, and real world solutions that result in tangible, 
science-based outcomes. Filling this knowledge gap will allow 
the livestock industry, academia, and policymakers to 
understand how food production interacts with and impacts 
climate change. The livestock industry and academic community 
continue to actively explore how to effectively measure, 
validate, and continually improve livestock sustainability, 
including reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a holistic and 
comprehensive way.
    Greenhouse gases from livestock are difficult to measure, 
and until the last decade scientists did not have an effective 
method to quantify greenhouse gas emissions from livestock in 
their natural environments. Today emission estimates are based 
on models. They use limited absolute emission data. Absolute 
emission data from livestock is needed to fully understand 
mitigation potential. Without a robust baseline, farmers and 
ranchers, and others along the supply chain, are faced with a 
challenge to reduce emissions, but lack an understanding of 
where to begin, which makes it nearly impossible to determine 
if mitigation strategies are effective.
    An additional component of this research must focus on 
scalable solutions that are also possible for producers to 
promote economic growth, while ensuring that the food system 
can produce the amount of nutrient-dense food that will be 
required to meet the nutritional needs of a growing population 
over the coming decades. To develop truly sustainable 
solutions, all stakeholders need to be engaged and invested in 
the process, and this should include government entities and 
policymakers. Currently there is limited access to Federal 
funding, grants, and private investments to research greenhouse 
gas emissions in livestock systems. Private investing in the 
space of sustainability is rapidly increasing, and evolving 
faster than ever before, and there is an opportunity to 
leverage these funds, and this momentum, as we work together to 
meet this challenge.
    While sustainability has become a major focus recently, the 
livestock industry has been dedicated to continuous improvement 
for several decades. The majority of livestock production in 
the U.S. happens on family-owned and operated farms and 
ranches, and U.S. livestock operations are a critical element 
to the affordable, high-quality protein available to domestic 
and international consumers. Pressure is being placed on 
farmers and ranchers to mitigate impact without the appropriate 
tools that they need to be successful. As we move toward 
researching sustainable solutions for the livestock industry, 
it is critical that these strategies generated are applicable 
to the appropriate region in which the operation is located, 
and improve the overall sustainability of the food system.
    Thank you for the opportunity to testify before this panel, 
and I would be glad to address your questions, and I look 
forward to the discussion.
    [The prepared statement of Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson follows:]

 Prepared Statement of Kimberly R. Stackhouse-Lawson, Ph.D., Director, 
  AgNext and Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State 
                      University, Fort Collins, CO
    Chairman Costa, Ranking Member Johnson and Members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. I am Kim 
Stackhouse-Lawson, Director of AgNext and a Professor of Animal 
Sciences at Colorado State University. AgNext at Colorado State 
University is a leader for research in animal and ecosystem health 
while enhancing profitability of the supply chain and serves as the 
crossroads for producers, industry partners, and researchers to come 
together to innovate real-time solutions for sustainability in animal 
agriculture. Our research focuses on advancing the science of animal 
agriculture to ensure a continued safe, secure, and nutritious food 
supply. Our mission is to identify and scale innovation that fosters 
the health of animals and ecosystems to promote profitable industries 
that support vibrant communities.
    Prior to leading AgNext, I served as the Director of Sustainability 
for JBS USA where I was responsible for coordinating the company's 
corporate sustainability program and strategy. In this role, I served 
as the Chair of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Prior to my 
time with JBS USA, I was the Executive Director of Global 
Sustainability at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association where I 
developed the beef check-off sustainability research program and the 
U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. I believe strongly in engaging 
with the value chain and demonstrate this commitment through active 
leadership that fosters strong private-public partnerships.
Livestock Agriculture is a Complex System
    Due to the complexity and importance of animal agriculture systems, 
we must consider interactions and potential unintended consequences of 
solutions towards enhanced sustainability. Sustainability may be best 
described as a ``wicked'' problem as no definitive formulation of the 
problem exists. It does not have one solution and stakeholders often 
have different frames of reference or perspectives (Kebreab, 2013). An 
integrated science-based approach is necessary when assessing 
sustainability, where multiple aspects of the system should be 
considered to understand the tradeoffs when the system is altered. For 
example, those solutions developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 
should only be implemented if they do not sacrifice (and ideally 
improve) different ecosystem elements. Those elements include, but is 
not limited to, land, air, and water quality, water use, food security, 
animal health and well-being, worker safety and satisfaction, impacts 
on public health, racial and gender equality, and value chain 
profitability. We must consider unintended consequences and trade-offs 
as we start to explore sustainability in livestock systems.
Sustainability Defined
    Sustainability is a term used across many industries and it has 
increased in interest and research over the last 20 years. However, the 
complex nature of sustainability and its varying interpretations makes 
a definitive definition elusive. In the broadest of terms, it can be 
defined as meeting the needs of the society today, without compromising 
the ability of future generations to meet their needs (EPA, 2021). 
However, over the past decade the most cited definitions of 
sustainability have advanced to include the three pillars: social, 
economic and environmental. Each pillar is dependent on the other and 
no one pillar is more important. The overlap between the pillars 
(socioeconomic, eco-environmental, and socio-environmental) are equally 
critical to prioritize because it is within these complexities that 
systems must function (see Figure 1). Further complicating this topic 
is the importance that an individual places on the different aspects of 
sustainability, which adds an emotional element. Generally, 
sustainability includes aspiration focused on continuous improvement 
across all aspects; however, measuring and tracking that progress is 
challenging due to the complex nature of the topic itself.
Figure 1: Schematic detailing the complexities of sustainability, 
        please note this does not include an exhaustive list of 
        metrics.
        
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
        
    Further complicating this area of study, is the pace at which the 
space of sustainability is growing in importance. Many leading 
companies and industries have announced aggressive sustainability 
goals, including Net Zero targets (defined as climate or carbon 
neutral) that will have real and lasting impacts on food systems as we 
know them today. Many of these commitments are directly in line with 
the recommendations released in the 6th assessment report from 
International Panel on Climate Change which suggests a crucial need to 
focus specifically on reducing global temperature through greenhouse 
gas (GHG) reduction. Additional research will be critical for the 
livestock industry to make progress toward GHG reductions.
Livestock's Contribution to Food System Resiliency and Food Security
    In food production, sustainability is generally described alongside 
our need to feed a growing population. By 2050, our planet's population 
will increase by 2.2 billion requiring food production to increase by 
70%. Estimates suggest that animal agriculture production will need to 
increase 100% to ensure adequate nutrition to this rapidly growing 
population. There is no question that this will be the greatest 
challenge of our lifetime. Providing this nutrition and doing so within 
the bounds of our planetary resources in an equitable way should be our 
focus.
    The livestock production system in the U.S. is based largely on 
family-owned ranches that produce beef, dairy and lamb. These livestock 
operations are a critical element of the affordable, high-quality 
protein food production systems for domestic and international 
consumers. Particularly in the highly variable arid and semi-arid 
climates of the United States, the ability of ruminant livestock to 
convert non-human consumable forage to human-edible food on lands 
unsuitable for crop production presents an opportunity for sustainable 
intensification, while achieving multiple social-ecological objectives 
(Booker, et al. 2013, Sayre, et al. 2017).
    Ranching-based livestock systems are the dominant land use in much 
of the North American Great Plains. These ecosystems have experienced 
less conversion to cropland compared to the wetter, more mesic systems 
of the eastern part (Augustine 2019) and represents largely intact 
native ecosystems still exist in western ecoregions. These ecosystems 
are suited to both livestock production and provision of multiple 
ecosystem services, including biodiversity and habitat connectivity, 
carbon sequestration, grassland bird habitat, and cultural services 
such as open space, tourism opportunities, and recreation.
    Livestock food production is an essential food system; however, it 
is often criticized for its environmental impact, especially its impact 
on climate change. The critical nature and timeliness of ensuring food 
security and doubling food production while also meeting GHG emission 
reductions is no small task. We need to focus on solutions that also 
consider the social, environmental and economic tradeoffs and the 
impact that extreme decisions could have on the system as a whole. In 
sustainability, silver bullets do not exist, we must take a more 
inclusive a systematic approach to ensure we do not solve one problem 
and create three more.
GHG Impact from Livestock Systems
    The livestock accounts for 3.8% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 
and enteric methane accounts for approximately 30% of methane emissions 
in the U.S. (EPA, 2021). To curb continued increases in temperature, 
President Biden has committed to Net Zero emissions in the U.S. by 2050 
and a reduction in methane emissions by 30% by 2030 relative to a 2020 
baseline. Additionally, numerous food companies in the animal 
agriculture supply-chain have committed to Net Zero emissions by 2040 
or 2050 and there is further pressure from financial institutions and 
investors to demonstrate improved performance related to GHG emissions. 
However, minimal research on emissions from cattle has occurred in 
production environments or exploring the additive effect of current 
technologies, thereby necessitating a first step of baselining 
emissions of livestock in a production environment.
    Over the past several decades, large improvements in production 
efficiency and land utilization have occurred in the livestock 
industry. This has been driven by innovations in feeding management and 
diet formulation, improvements in animal health and welfare, animal 
genetics and utilization of feed additives. Relative to 1977 production 
practices, cattle production produced 81% of the manure, 82% of the 
methane, and 88% of the nitrous oxide, all while producing more human 
edible protein with less animals (Capper, 2010). While sustainability 
has become a major focus recently, it is critical to acknowledge that 
this livestock industry has been dedicated to continuous improvement 
for several decades and has already set audacious net zero emission 
goals across multiple livestock sectors.
    Livestock systems are incredibly diverse. There is tremendous 
variability across industries from dairies to ranches to feedyards and 
differences within each industry. Practices that are implemented on 
livestock operations in one region will vary greatly from another 
because of the resources available and climatic differences. For 
example, dairies in Pennsylvania are different than in Colorado. A 
ranch in Florida is distinctly different than a ranch in Idaho. 
Sustainable solutions for mitigating environmental impact will vary 
greatly based on the location, size and scale of the livestock 
operation. It is critical that the U.S. conducts research across 
multiple segments of the supply chain and across geographical regional 
differences so that we can develop solutions that are practical for the 
region, practical for farmers and ranchers to adopt, and applicable to 
that operation.
    There is a significant gap in this research, especially related to 
livestock's contribution to climate change. Greenhouse gases from 
livestock are difficult to measure, and until the last decade 
scientists did not have a non-invasive method to quantify enteric 
methane emissions in production environments. This means that models 
utilized to quantify emissions were not developed from animals behaving 
normally and in normal environments. Furthermore, quantifying other 
important greenhouse gases related to livestock (i.e., nitrous oxide) 
is extremely expensive and difficult due to the impact the weather 
conditions and topography can have on the ability to quantify these 
emissions. Filling this knowledge gap will allow both the livestock 
industry and climate scientists to have a better understanding of how 
food production interacts with the environment by improving the current 
models.
Economic Impacts from Livestock Systems
    Livestock producers, feeders and processors also play a critical 
role in the U.S. economy and support rural economies. A successful 
agriculture sector supports economic growth overall while also 
providing a safe and nutritious food supply. An additional component of 
this research must focus on scalable solutions that are also profitable 
for producers to promote economic growth, while ensuring that the food 
system can produce the amount of nutrient dense food that will be 
required to meet the nutritional needs of a growing population over the 
coming decades. As we move toward researching sustainable solutions for 
the livestock industry it is critical that any solutions generated are 
economically viable and scalable across a wide range of operations.
Sustainable Solutions in Livestock Systems
    The livestock industry and academic community are actively 
exploring how to effectively measure, validate and continually improve 
its overall sustainability in a holistic and comprehensive way. This is 
not easy as a one size fits all approach which is not applicable to 
biological systems like food production. Currently, there is limited 
access to Federal funding, grants, and private investments to research 
sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions in livestock systems. The 
equipment needed to conduct this critical research is available, but in 
order to gain access to this cutting-edge technology more funding will 
be required to begin to thoroughly understand the baseline of GHG 
emissions from livestock systems.
    Without a robust understanding of baseline emissions, producers and 
others along the supply chain are faced with the challenge to reduce 
emissions, but without an understanding of where to begin, which makes 
it is nearly impossible to understand if mitigation strategies are 
effective. Pressure is being placed on producers to mitigate impact and 
they are being asked to adapt and reduce emissions without the 
appropriate tools that they need move as quickly as they are being 
asked to. It is imperative that solutions that are generated are 
scalable, economically feasible and practical for producers to utilize 
to encourage high adoption rates.
    For enteric methane emissions, a high priority area is to establish 
baseline emissions and develop practical solutions for producers in 
grazing systems. These systems are the largest contributor to the 
footprint of the beef industry but most research on enteric methane 
reduction strategies occur in controlled feedlot environments and 
diets. This will require investment in research as emissions and 
production systems exist as gradient in grazing systems. Forage types, 
local weather/climate, and individual producer management decisions all 
influence the emissions from grazing animals.
    Developing affordable methods in quantifying nitrogen loss to the 
environment is a crucial need for food production systems. While we 
understand how weather events influence nitrogen deposition, we need to 
improve methods for quantification of nitrous oxide emissions, ammonia 
emissions, and nitrogen leaching. The development of interventions that 
reduce nitrogen losses and improve nitrogen use efficiency has the 
potential to improve the sustainability of both livestock and cropping 
systems.
    Today there is considerable interest in utilizing grazing systems 
to sequester carbon in the soil to offset emissions from the food 
supply chain. This includes various carbon markets being developed to 
incentivize producers to manage their landscapes in a way that improves 
carbon sequestration and soil health. While the literature does 
indicate this is possible, arid environments do not appear to have 
capacity to increase soil carbon stocks due to a lack of moisture. 
Furthermore, how grazing management influences soil carbon and soil 
health is very inconsistent. More work is needed to come to a 
scientific consensus on appropriate grazing management across different 
climatic gradients.
    Often lost in the discussion of sustainable livestock systems is 
the suite of other ecosystem services that producers offer for society 
as stewards of the land. This includes culture and leisure, energy, 
water quality, managing for wildlife habitat, fuel reduction, and 
biodiversity. Investment in research that quantifies these benefits and 
offers economic returns to producers can help them improve the 
sustainability of their operations while providing benefits to greater 
society.
    Climate change is going to have a major impact on our food supply 
chain. Currently, we expect to see positive changes such an increased 
growing season and increased forage production. However, we also expect 
increased climate variability, including the frequency of extreme 
weather events such as drought and flooding. These changes alone are 
going to challenge, and require improvements, in the adaptive capacity 
and resiliency of our producers and rural communities. With further 
market and political variability, producers need investment from public 
and private sources to improve their ability to navigate future 
challenges while continuing to provide a safe and nutrient dense food 
supply.
    Public investing in the space of sustainability is rapidly 
increasing and evolving faster than ever before. This has led to 
companies across a multitude of industries, including agriculture, 
committing to a net-zero future. In his 2022 letter to CEO's, Blackrock 
CEO and President Larry Fink said ``Every company and every industry 
will be transformed by the transition to a net zero world . . . . all 
markets will require unprecedented investment in de-carbonization 
technology.'' We need transformative discoveries on a level with the 
electric light bulb, and we need to foster investment in them so that 
they are scalable and affordable. To develop a truly sustainable 
solutions all stakeholders need to be engaged and invested in the 
process, and this includes government entities and policy makers.
    Thank you for the opportunity to testify before this panel. I would 
be glad to address your questions and I look forward to the discussion.

 
 
 
                              [References]
 
    Augustine, D., Davidson, A., Dickinson, K., Van Pelt, B. 2019.
 Thinking like a grassland: challenges and opportunities for
 biodiversity conservation in the Great Plains of North America. Rangel.
 Ecol. & Manage. (6 Nov. 2019 online) https://doi.org/10.1016/
 j.rama.2019.09.001.
    Booker, K., Huntsinger, L., Bartolome, J.W., Sayre, N.F., Stewart,
 W. 2013. What can ecological science tell us about opportunities for
 carbon sequestration on arid rangelands in the United States? Global
 Environ. Change 23: 240-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/
 j.gloenvcha.2012.10.001.
    Capper, J.L. 2010. The environmental impact of beef production in
 the United States: 1977 compared with 2007. Journal of Animal Science.
 89: 4249-4261. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3784.
    EPA. 2021. Sustainability and the ROE. Available from: https://
 www.epa.gov/report-environment/sustainability-and-roe.
    Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations (2009).
 2050: A third more mouths to feed https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/
 item/35571/icode/.
    Kebreab, E. 2013. Sustainable Animal Agriculture. CABI.
    Sayre, N.F., Davis, D.K., Bestelmeyer, B., Williamson, J.C. 2017.
 Rangelands: Where anthromes meet their limits. Land 6(2): 31. https://
 doi.org/10.3390/land6020031.
 


    The Chairman. Well thank you very much, Dr. Stackhouse-
Lawson, for your comments and your points. I think they are 
well taken. The ability to provide measurements that are 
understandable, and solutions that can achieve those goals, are 
critical toward our ability to manage this, and your point 
about sufficient funding to do a lot of the research that is 
necessary is something that we should take into account as it 
relates to the next farm bill, and some of the other efforts 
that are ongoing with legislation. I think your perspective 
really points out something I like to talk about regularly that 
I think is--really makes the United States in some ways so 
different than other parts of the world, and that is our land-
grant universities, our agricultural schools, like yours, that 
have played an important role historically in terms of research 
that has allowed American agriculture, over 100 years, to 
really achieve levels of quality, and production, and best 
management practices that, without that academic involvement, I 
don't think would have been possible. So keep up the good work.
    And our next witness today is a person--and her family, 
Rosie Burroughs, with the Burroughs Family Farms in Denair, 
California. They are a marketing flagship for organic and 
regenerative grass-based pasture-raised added value products 
produced by the family enterprises include almonds, beef, 
chicken, dairy, eggs, sheep, olive oil, walnuts, meat, birds, 
and turkeys. Their farming and ranching efforts are like 
California, diverse, and therefore we are very proud of their 
efforts. And, Ms. Burroughs, please, you have 5 minutes to 
present to the Committee. We are looking forward to hearing 
your comments.

          STATEMENT OF ROSE MARIE (ROSIE) BURROUGHS, 
  PRODUCER, BURROUGHS FAMILY FARMS, DENAIR, CA; ON BEHALF OF 
               NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 
                           COALITION

    Ms. Burroughs. Good morning, Subcommittee Chairman Costa, 
Ranking Member Johnson, Members of the Subcommittee, and 
Members of the full Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to 
testify before you about my family's farms, and our experiences 
farming with regenerative practices. My husband Ward and I farm 
with our children, and their families, in the rolling foothills 
of the San Joaquin Valley in California and northern Merced 
County, and in Bonanza, Oregon. We are carrying on the 
Burroughs family farming legacy, which spans over a century, 
and over the last 20 years we have formed partnerships with our 
children. Thank you for mentioning all of our products under 
the Burroughs Family Farms marketing flagship.
    Our nation's greatest resource is the rancher and the 
farmer families who are the stewards of our grasslands and 
farmlands, and are devoted to producing our country's food and 
fiber. Our future survival depends on how we handle climate 
change, and the extreme weather patterns of drought, and 
devastating storms which are symptomatic of the warming of our 
planet. It is extremely important that U.S. agriculture 
responds to these problems by adopting regenerative agriculture 
practices. As we started our farming/ranching journey as 
conventional farmers, we didn't know what we didn't know, and 
we were part of the problem. Around 40 years ago we discovered 
the holistic approach to ranching and farming, and 20 years ago 
our path to organic ranching and farming, using regenerative 
practices.
    Let me take a moment to explain regenerative agriculture. 
It is a system of farming principles and practices that seek to 
regenerate and enhance the entire ecosystem of our farms, our 
ranches, by concentrating on building soil health, which 
increases soil biodiversity and organic matter, leading to more 
resilient soils that can better withstand climate change 
impacts like flooding and drought. Regenerative practices help 
us fight the climate crisis by pulling carbon from the 
atmosphere and sequestering it in the ground. Healthy soils 
leads to strong yields, and nutrient-dense rich crops.
    To do this, on our farms we are using these practices to 
build soil health. No-till, or minimum-till, planting cover 
crops, keeping the soil covered with a diversity of plants for 
as long as possible, and we have integrated animal grazing on 
our rangelands, irrigated pastures, and orchards when possible. 
We use compost and manure for our fertilizer. Research 
conducted by Ecdysis and Cal State East Bay in a comparative 
study, including our regenerative almond orchard, showed that 
regenerative orchards can have a 30 percent higher soil organic 
matter, significantly greater carbon sequestration, and soil 
health, six times higher water infiltration rates, six times 
higher insect biomass, and measurably greater soil microbial 
activity, and similar yields.
    This is proof that regenerative age practices will work to 
ensuring our farmers and ranchers continue their work by being 
sustainable and viable while protecting our environment. We are 
very proud to be part of the regenerative agriculture movement, 
which has been gaining momentum, but we need more support to 
continue forward in research and education. I am here today to 
implore this Committee to support funding in the new farm bill 
for regenerative agriculture practices.
    In closing, I have listed more information, with links in 
my written testimony. We are hosting a farm field day on 
February 17, and I would really like you to take special 
attention to the two links for the Center for Regenerative 
Agriculture and Resilient Systems at CSU Chico, and the Ecdysis 
Foundation, both excellent resources on current research and 
education. Thank you for your opportunity to testify, and share 
my experiences about our family's farms, and I hope and pray 
that you will take the information in this hearing to support 
the sustainability of livestock systems.
    [The prepared statement of Ms. Burroughs follows:]

Prepared Statement of Rose Marie (Rosie) Burroughs, Producer, Burroughs 
Family Farms, Denair, CA; on Behalf of National Sustainable Agriculture 
                               Coalition
    Good morning, Subcommittee Chairman Costa, Ranking Member Johnson, 
and Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to 
testify before you about my family's farms and how we strive to be the 
best stewards of our land. I am Rosie Burroughs of Burroughs Family 
Farms. My husband Ward and I have always felt a strong responsibility 
for taking care of the land and passing it down to the next generation 
in better condition than we inherited it. For our forefathers, my 
husband and I, and our children, we are proud to have continued the 
stewardship of our farms over the course of five generations.
    With my husband Ward, we farm with three of our children and their 
families, in the rolling foothills of the San Joaquin Valley of 
California in northeastern Merced County and Bonanza, Oregon. We are 
carrying on the Burroughs family farming legacy which spans over a 
century. Over the last 20 years we have formed partnerships with our 
children in Full Circle Dairy, Burroughs Family Orchards and California 
Cloverleaf Farms
    We are committed to Organic/Regenerative family farming practices 
and to promoting the preservation of quality farmland in a way that 
nourishes and regenerates the land & enhances the soil, air, water and 
the overall environment.
    We have integrated regenerative farming practices into our farms 
including cover crops & management intensive grazing livestock in our 
minimum/no-till orchards that enhance our interrelated holistic systems 
to reduce water use and improve soil fertility by focusing on 
nourishing soil biology and increasing biodiversity. We rely on no 
synthetic inputs of any kind, and maintain a sustainable loop of 
resources.
    Hedgerows of more than 60 varieties of native plants, trees and 
shrubs, have been planted to provide habitat for pollinators and other 
beneficials across all farms. We have something in bloom every day of 
the year.
    Burroughs Family Farms is the marketing flagship for Organic/
Regenerative, grass-based, pasture-raised added value products produced 
by the family enterprises including almonds, beef, chickens, dairy, 
eggs, sheep, olive oil, walnuts, meat birds, & turkeys.
    Farming/Ranching organically using Regenerative Practices and 
management intensive grazing is the key to the future. To do this, we 
are using the practices to build soil health: minimum or no-till the 
soil, cover the soil with a diversity of plants for as long as 
possible, use as many plant species as possible, integrate livestock 
grazing when possible. We use compost and manure for our fertility.
    Ecdysis Foundation and Cal State East Bay have conducted research 
on our farm over the last 3 years. The research on our orchards has 
shown that we have improved organic matter, increased water holding 
capacity and infiltrations rates, significantly increased our carbon 
sequestration, increased our insect biomass, increased soil microbial 
activity, used less water and our yields are improving.
    On December 31, 2020, we milked for the last time, at our 
California Cloverleaf Farms Dairy. California Cloverleaf Farms Dairy 
was closed because it was no longer financially viable. We have always 
followed the National Organic Program (NOP) rules but could not survive 
doing it. The organic dairy industry doesn't have a level playing field 
because the NOP has not enforced the pasture rule uniformly across the 
nation. Congress has directed the NOP to publish the final rule on 
Origin of Livestock, which NOP has NOT done. Having the NOP make the 
origin of livestock final rule will ensure all dairy farms are 
operating under the same rules.

    Our other family organic dairy, Full Circle Dairy, is headed down 
the same 
road . . . because the pay price is too low and the costs are too high 
to be economically viable. There is too much supply of cheap organic 
milk which lowers the pay price because the NOP has not done its job. 
This creates an unfair advantage for those operating under the intent 
of the National Organic Program and the intent of the organic rules. 
The following information is a short summary of our work and Congress's 
directive to issue the final rule in 2020 and has still not been 
addressed. In 2008, dairy producers across the country worked together 
to establish meaningful and enforceable standards for dairy cows and 
their progeny to be on productive grassland. Congressional Support 
required USDA to issue a final rule by including the following language 
in both the House and Senate passed Agriculture Appropriations bills 
for Fiscal Year 2020:
    ``No later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue a final rule based on the 
proposed rule entitled `National Organic Program; Origin of Livestock,' 
published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 
23455): Provided that the final rule shall incorporate public comments 
submitted in response to the proposed rule.''
    We are losing or have lost the very pioneers of the organic dairy 
movement. We've lost those who were models of pasture-based organic 
dairy production, working with the land, environment, and Mother Nature 
to provide the organic milk consumers were looking for. The organic 
dairy industry was built on the backs of producers following the true 
intent of organic rules. To reduce organic dairy production to just 
numbers, minimum guidelines, and methodologies takes away from those 
working to keep integrity in the organic seal.

    Despite these challenges and building on our successes outside of 
organic dairy, during this past year of 2021 we have started our 
transition out of each business partnership and will complete our 
succession to the next generation and to our grandchildren in 2022.
    We believe that our greatest legacy is passing down the farm, the 
most precious of natural resources, to future generations, in better 
condition than when we inherited the land.

    Our nation's greatest resource is the family Rancher/Farmer who are 
the stewards of our farmlands and grasslands and are devoted to 
producing our country's food and fiber!

    Investors from China are purchasing farm land with water in Merced 
County. We were told by one realtor that when s/he asked ``why are you 
interested in purchasing farm land''? The person replied we are 
preparing for the future to ensure we have food to send to our people 
of China. Our Country needs to have the same priority about food, 
farming, ranching and the land that sustains our lives. How can we let 
food grown on our farm land be exported to feed other countries?
    Thank you for the opportunity to testify and share my experiences 
about our family's farms. I hope and pray that you will take this 
information in this hearing to support by ensuring the sustainability 
of livestock systems so that more Farmers and Ranchers can get the 
support they need to become more resilient and do our part to produce 
food and fiber as climate change creates extreme weather challenges.
    We are hosting a farm field day on February 17, 2022, we offer our 
farm to educate farmers and our community about the practices we are 
using. Please join us.

          https://noregretsinitiative.activehosted.com/
        index.php?action=social&
        chash=e3796ae838835da0b6f6ea37bcf8bcb7.4596&s=10f642e253f53f2b31
        2c02
        17a0ddcf73
          www.burroughsfamilyfarms.com
          https://www.facebook.com/BurroughsFamilyFarms
          Ecdysis Foundation: https://f1000research.com/articles/10-115
          https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/
        fsufs.2021.664359/full
          https://peerj.com/articles/4428/
          www.ecdysis.bio
          Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems--
        CSU, Chico (csuchico.edu)

    We are committed to Organic/Regenerative family farming practices 
and to promoting the preservation of quality farmland in a way that 
nourishes and regenerates the land & enhances the soil, air, water and 
the overall environment.

Rosie Burroughs
                               Attachment
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

[https://calclimateag.org/leopold-conservation-award-recognizes-
burroughs-family-of-farms/]
Leopold Conservation Award Recognizes Burroughs Family of Farms
Posted on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 by Renata Brillinger


    We are so pleased to learn that Ward and Rosie Burroughs, long-time 
farmer advisors to CalCAN, are this year's recipients of the 
prestigious California Leopold Conservation Award.\1\ They are living 
examples of the Leopold Award criteria: responsible management of 
natural resources, economic sustainability, land health, leadership, 
innovation and outreach.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/leopold-conservation-
award-program/state/california.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ward, Rosie and their children are the owners of Burroughs Family 
of Farms,\2\ a diversified, regenerative farming operation in 
California's Central Valley, near Denair. They produce organic almonds, 
pasture-based dairy, beef, pastured chickens and free-range eggs, and 
olives. Ward and Rosie's children are the fourth generation of farmers, 
and everything the family does assures the long-term economic, 
environmental and social sustainability of the businesses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ https://www.burroughsfamilyfarms.com/.
    
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Over the past 18 years, the Burroughs have transitioned all of 
their operations to meet certified organic standards. Their farms rely 
on no synthetic inputs of any kind, and they use a regenerative 
approach that puts an emphasis on nourishing soil biology at the center 
of their management decisions rather than depleting the soils or 
relying on chemical fertilizers. Years ago, Ward told me that he 
considers himself ``a grass farmer'' rather than a dairy farmer, 
focused on the health of the soil and forage that is the key to 
productivity and ecosystem health.
    The Burroughs are continually innovating with the integration of a 
number of practices including:

   Combining cover crops and compost application--They produce 
        4,000 tons of compost each year from organic waste products 
        such as cow manure, orchard trimmings, paper and cardboard. 
        They also shred their almond tree prunings and leave them on 
        the orchard floor to decompose and add organic matter to feeds 
        soil biology.

   Silvopasture--The Burroughs rotate cattle and chickens 
        through their orchards at specific times of the year to graze 
        down the cover crops (rather than chemical burning or mowing). 
        This adds manure directly to the soil to increase its soil 
        carbon content and minimizes methane emissions associated with 
        manure lagoons. It also increases forage quality and quantity 
        and helps them achieve as much as 80 percent time on pasture 
        annually which is virtually unheard of in the arid climate of 
        the Central Valley.

   No-till--Due to the combination of cover crops, compost and 
        animal grazing, the Burroughs no longer till their orchard 
        floors because the soil has such healthy structure. This 
        protects their soil structure and keeps more carbon in the 
        ground.

   Compost tea--They inject a liquid extract of compost into 
        irrigation lines to increase nutrient cycling, root growth, and 
        soil porosity improves water retention and aquifer recharge.

   Drip irrigation--They installed drip irrigation long before 
        it was common practice in orchards, thereby conserving water 
        and energy to pump it.

   Hedgerows--They use a combination of native flowing plants, 
        shrubs and fruit trees throughout their orchards and along 
        field and road borders, providing habitat for native 
        pollinators, beneficial insects, insects and birds and storing 
        carbon.

   Whole almond orchard recycling--When their orchards are 
        replanted, the old trees are chipped, spread, and incorporated 
        back into the soil to promote higher levels of organic matter, 
        increase soil fertility, and increase soil water retention.

   Renewable energy--Eighty percent of the farm's almond and 
        pasture irrigation (3,173 irrigated acres) is supplied with 
        solar energy from 19 solar tracking sites.

    Over time, the integrated combination of practices they have 
developed has had synergistic benefits to their system and to their 
community. Their farm sequesters carbon in soil and woody plants, 
replenishes the groundwater, improves air and water quality, creates a 
healthy environment for their animals and workers, and increases 
biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
    The leadership demonstrated by Ward and Rosie and their children 
extends beyond the farm. They have contributed in many ways to the 
larger community in the Merced area and in the farming community. Among 
their many volunteer roles, Rosie and Ward as has served as CalCAN 
farmer advisors since our founding almost 13 years ago. They received a 
Leadership Award \3\ at our sixth Climate and Agriculture Summit in 
2019. Our work is more powerful and impactful for their involvement, 
and we are so pleased to see their work recognized with the Leopold 
Award.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ https://calclimateag.org/agricultural-climate-leaders-
recognized-at-calcan-summit/.

    See here to read the announcement of the Award.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/leopold-conservation-
award-program/ward-rosie-burroughs-burroughs-family-of-farms.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


    The Chairman. Ms. Burroughs, we thank you very much for 
your first-time experience, and trying to ensure that your 
farming operations are as sustainable as they possibly can be, 
and the experiences you have had to deal with, you and your 
family, in making those changes and adjustments, and we look 
forward to having an opportunity to question you on your 
February 17 farm day. Please get my office the information. I 
don't know that it is possible that I could be there, but if it 
is, I would certainly like to see it firsthand.
    Our next witness is an individual who I have known for a 
number of years, who farms in my area. His family has been 
active in dairy in California for generations. He operates 
Medeiros Holsteins in California. He is also a member of the 
Executive Committee of the National Milk Producers Federation, 
and he is now working on Melvin, the third or fourth generation 
in your family to maintain that involvement, but you don't farm 
the way your father did, nor your grandfather, nor do I, and we 
look forward your comments. Please begin.

  STATEMENT OF MELVIN MEDEIROS, PRODUCER, MEDEIROS HOLSTEINS; 
   CHAIRMAN, WESTERN AREA COUNCIL, DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA; 
     MEMBER, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS 
                     FEDERATION, LATON, CA

    Mr. Medeiros. Well, thank you. Thank you, Jim. Good 
morning, Chairman Costa, Ranking Member Johnson, and Members of 
the Subcommittee, and I thank you for the opportunity to 
testify today, and share the dairy industry's perspective on 
sustainability. My name is Melvin Medeiros. I have been 
dairying since 1981 on a farm started by my parents. Today my 
wife Kelly and I own and operate Medeiros Holsteins, along with 
Medeiros Dairy, a 1,600 cow dairy operation in California, 
along with our two sons. I am honored to serve as Chairman of 
the Western Area Council for Dairy Farmers of America, the 
leading dairy co-op and milk marketing cooperative in the U.S. 
I am testifying before you today on behalf of the National Milk 
Producers Federation, of which DFA is a member cooperative, and 
I serve on the Executive Committee.
    U.S. dairy farmers are environmental stewards. We tend with 
great care to our land and water, and ensure future generations 
can carry on the important work of feeding the U.S. and the 
world. We value proactive--about sustainability, and have 
adopted agricultural practices and technologies that have 
evolved over time. As a testament to the dairy's endeavors, by 
2007 producing a gallon of milk used 90 percent less land, 65 
percent less water, with 63 percent smaller carbon footprint 
than in 1944. More recently, research shows that producing a 
gallon of milk in 2017 requires 30 percent less water, 21 
percent less land, 19 percent smaller carbon footprint, and 20 
percent less manure than by 2007.
    As a farmer-owned cooperative, DFA is always working to 
identify new, innovative ways to conserve resources, and is 
committed to working to a 30 percent reduction in the emissions 
across the cooperative by 2030 from a 2018 baseline. More 
broadly, in 2009, U.S. dairy industry launched the National 
Dairy FARM Program to demonstrate that the U.S. dairy farmers 
are committed to producing the best milk with integrity. The 
FARM Program's environmental stewards pillar provides a 
comprehensive climate, greenhouse emissions, and energy use on 
dairy farms, with resources for farmers to measure and improve 
their footprint. Today, organizations representing 99 percent 
of the U.S. milk volume participate in the FARM Program 
overall, with almost 80 percent of the milk volume 
participating in the environmental stewards portion.
    Farmers are always striving to produce more with less, 
focused on continuous improvements in that area, as part of the 
commitment to provide the world with responsibly produced dairy 
foods. In 2020 the U.S. dairy sector set aggressive new 
environmental sustainability goals to become greenhouse neutral 
or better, improve water quality, optimize water usage by 2050. 
My cooperative is determined to do its part in the dairy 
industry and achieve these goals. To do this, the dairy 
industry will need to identify, technological and other 
advancements to accelerate improvements. National Milk, and the 
industry's partners, have mobilized through net-zero initiative 
to do just that.
    However, sustained low milk prices, high input costs have 
created many challenges for recent dairy producers. Dairy 
farmers are eager for policy improvements that will unlock 
additional revenue streams, and make advanced environmental 
protection a source of economic strength for all dairy farms. 
To help U.S. dairy farmers enhance their ongoing 
sustainability, leadership, the dairy industry needs your 
support. National Milk recommends two broad areas to improving 
policy. First, USDA conservation programs must be instrumental 
in achieving sustainable goals, but we urge better tailoring of 
programs towards manure and feed management. Enteric emissions 
account for roughly \1/3\ of dairy farm greenhouse gases. For 
the footprint--key area of opportunity for progress, and we 
support increasing program funding to keep and achieve these 
goals, and are grateful to the Members of both parties that 
have put forth legislation to bolster conservation programs.
    Second, National Milk supports policies that spur and adopt 
innovative technology and practices. Dairy farmers see great 
value in adopting anaerobic digesters, and to reduce emissions, 
but lack sustainable markets for this energy produced on a 
farm, and it has limited their economical viability. Similar, 
new animal feed additives significantly reduce enteric 
emissions, but current U.S. policy hinders timely approval, and 
puts U.S. farmers at a competitive disadvantage. To solve these 
problems, we support creating an incentive tax credit to cover 
up-front costs of digesters, and we urge expediting FDA's 
approval of safe, effective animal feed ingredients.
    Before I close, I want to emphasize how critical 
sustainability is to remaining a competitive global supplier. 
More than 16 percent of U.S. milk production is exported. The 
U.S. dairy sector is well positioned to meet environmental 
demands of consumers worldwide. Our farmers have the lowest 
greenhouse gas footprint per gallon of milk compared to other 
suppliers around the world, but our competitors are 
continuously making investments, working on positioning their 
way of farming as more sustainable. This type of support I have 
outlined today is needed to help us counter that. In 
conclusion, I want to note that the agricultural industry has 
been focused on sustainability for many generations. While we 
might have talked different, our goals have always been to 
leave the resources to our farms better for our children. Your 
participation can help fill these policy gaps, and make even 
further strides. So thank you for the opportunity to represent 
the dairy industry, and I look forward to your questions.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Medeiros follows:]

 Prepared Statement of Melvin Medeiros, Producer, Medeiros Holsteins; 
   Chairman, Western Area Council, Dairy Farmers of America; Member, 
   Executive Committee, National Milk Producers Federation, Laton, CA
    Good morning, Chairman Costa, Ranking Member Johnson, and Members 
of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before 
you today to share the dairy industry's perspective on sustainability.
Introduction
    My name is Melvin Medeiros. I have been dairying since 1981 on a 
farm started by my father. Today, my wife, Kelley, and I own and 
operate Medeiros Holsteins, a 1,600 cow dairy operation in California. 
I am proud that all three of our sons work with us; our two oldest own 
their own dairies as well, while our youngest manages the 550 acres of 
double-crop wheat and corn required to supply our silage needs.
    I am honored to serve as Chairman of Dairy Farmers of America 
(DFA)'s Western Area Council. DFA is the nation's leading diversified 
milk marketing cooperative, owned and governed by 12,500 dairy farmers 
across the country. DFA's family farmers are invested in 84 processing 
facilities that produce a wide range of dairy products, including fluid 
milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and dairy ingredients. The DFA Western 
Area includes nearly 225 farmers residing in California, Nevada, and 
Western Arizona as well as eight manufacturing plants.
    I am testifying before you today on behalf of the National Milk 
Producers Federation (NMPF), of which DFA is a member cooperative and 
where I serve on its Executive Committee. NMPF develops and carries out 
policies that advance the well-being of dairy producers like me and the 
cooperatives we own. NMPF's member cooperatives produce the majority of 
the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of tens of thousands of 
dairy producers on national issues. Sustainability is one of our 
priority issues and has only become ever more important in recent 
years.
Dairy Sustainability Leadership
    U.S. dairy farmers are environmental stewards. We tend with great 
care to our land and water to improve the resources on our farms and 
ensure future generations can carry on our important work of feeding 
the nation and the world. Dairy farmers have dealt with changing 
weather patterns for years, and we have been addressing changing 
temperature and moisture challenges for generations. We value a 
proactive approach to sustainability, which can take many different 
forms, and we have adapted as agricultural practices and technologies 
have evolved and improved over time. Farmers place a high importance on 
land and water stewardship, and our family farm-owners continue to 
perfect these practices through sustainable innovations on the farm.
    As a testament to dairy's endeavors, in 2007, producing a gallon of 
milk used 90 percent less land and 65 percent less water, with a 63 
percent smaller carbon footprint than in 1944. More recently, research 
shows that producing a gallon of milk in 2017 required 30% less water, 
21% less land, had a 19% smaller carbon footprint, and produced 20% 
less manure than it did in 2007.
    As a farmer-owned and farmer-governed cooperative, DFA works to 
identify new, innovative ways to conserve resources, reduce waste, and 
work efficiently--on farms, in plants, and on the road. Our own 
science-based target commits to working toward a 30 percent reduction 
in absolute emissions across the cooperative by 2030. Nearly all DFA 
member-owners who grow crops implement a soil management plan to 
maintain or improve soil health, while 82% practice crop rotation and 
63% plant cover crops. Good soil health supports water conservation, 
efficient use of nutrients, and creates a more stable structure for 
plant roots. In 2009, our cooperative created DFA Energy, a company to 
help our producers navigate the emerging and complex field of on-farm 
energy conservation and renewable energy production by connecting them 
with credible partners and available funding opportunities to offset 
some of the cost of expensive, but important, technologies.
    More broadly, in 2009, the U.S. dairy industry launched the 
National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible 
ManagementTM ``to show customers and consumers that the 
dairy industry is taking the very best care of cows and the 
environment, producing safe, wholesome milk and adhering to the highest 
standards of workforce development.'' Created by NMPF in partnership 
with Dairy Management Inc., the FARM Program helps ensure the success 
of the entire industry by demonstrating that U.S. dairy farmers are 
committed to producing the best milk with integrity. The FARM Program's 
Environmental Stewardship pillar provides a comprehensive estimate of 
greenhouse gas emissions and energy use on dairy farms with a suite of 
tools and resources for farmers to measure and improve their footprint. 
Today, organizations representing 99% of U.S. milk volume participate 
in the FARM Program overall, with almost 80% by milk volume 
participating in the Environmental Stewardship portion.
    Farmers are always striving to produce more with less and are 
focused on continuous improvement in this area. As part of its 
collective commitment to provide the world responsibly produced dairy 
foods that nourish people, strengthen communities, and foster a 
sustainable future, in 2020, the U.S. dairy industry set aggressive 
environmental sustainability goals to become greenhouse gas-neutral or 
better, improve water quality, and optimize water usage by 2050. My 
cooperative is determined to do its part to help the dairy industry 
achieve these goals.
    To reach these 2050 goals, the U.S. dairy industry will need to 
identify technological and other advancements that can accelerate 
productivity improvements, enabling nimble adaptation and focusing on 
technology and practices that can be scaled for maximum impact. To meet 
these challenges, NMPF and its industry partners have created and 
mobilized through the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative (NZI), a 
partnership of the U.S. dairy community that seeks to unite the assets 
and expertise of trade, professional, and industry organizations. This 
collaborative effort creates a path and growing portfolio of strategies 
and programs to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality, as well as 
significant improvements in water quality and optimization of water 
use, through adoption of economically viable technologies and 
practices.
    As part of the groundwork needed to launch this initiative, the 
dairy industry has worked to develop scientific models to quantify the 
economic and environmental benefits associated with certain dairy farm 
technologies and practices, and various technologies have been 
catalogued and evaluated based on their effectiveness, resilience, and 
business prospects. The industry, within this initiative, will explore 
the impact of multiple technologies and management practices that have 
an ability to aid in reducing dairy's greenhouse gas footprint and 
water quality impact while optimizing water use. This effort will 
identify which technologies and practices work well for different types 
and sizes of operations, topography of land, the region's climates, and 
the unique needs of a farm's soil and water.
Policy Recommendations
    Sustained low milk prices and high input costs have created many 
challenges in recent years for dairy producers, exacerbated by the 
significant damages wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dairy farmers are 
eager for policy improvements that would unlock additional revenue 
streams and make advanced environmental protection a source of economic 
strength for all dairy farms. Currently, practices or technologies that 
yield real sustainability benefits while also providing an alternative 
revenue stream are gaining adoption in the dairy sector, but economic 
challenges present obstacles to more widespread adoption.
    To help U.S. dairy farmers enhance their ongoing environmental 
leadership, NMPF recommends several priority areas of policy focus. 
First, under this Committee's purview, USDA conservation programs will 
be instrumental to attaining the dairy industry's sustainability 
improvements over the next 30 years. NMPF last summer led a dozen 
agricultural and conservation organizations in urging Congress to 
substantially increase funding for conservation programs, emphasizing 
areas that can yield meaningful environmental and sustainability 
benefits. We are grateful that Members in both parties have put forth 
legislation to enhance conservation programs and believe that 
additional program funding will position producers to expand their 
efforts as this Committee begins the process of crafting the next farm 
bill.
    However, current USDA programs have neglected manure and feed 
management, key areas of opportunity in dairy production. Enteric 
methane emissions account for approximately \1/3\ of a dairy farm's 
greenhouse gas footprint. Enhancements to conservation programs could 
help dairy farmers adopt new approaches to feed management, such as 
using feed additives and optimizing feed rations, to reduce enteric 
methane emissions. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service should 
review its existing feed management practice standard and consider 
establishing a transition program for switching feed rations to reduce 
environmental impact. Dairy farmers thank this Committee for its work 
in the 2018 Farm Bill to create on-farm Conservation Innovation Trials, 
and we support increasing funding for the program with emphasis on 
initiatives that can use feed and diet management to reduce enteric 
methane emissions. NMPF is pleased that this proposal is moving forward 
in Congress as one of many conservation program enhancements that will 
help dairy farmers advance their sustainability leadership.
    NMPF also supports policies that create or enhance mechanisms to 
spur adoption of innovative technologies and practices. For example, 
dairy farmers see great value in adopting anaerobic digesters to 
maximize the value of manure and diversify farm income as well as 
reduce odors and emissions. The first anaerobic digester was installed 
on a dairy farm in the late 1970s, creating one of the first 
opportunities for significant greenhouse gas mitigation of farms' 
manure. Digesters capture emissions from manure and create energy in 
the form of renewable natural gas, electricity, and heat. However, 
significant financial challenges persist in this area. A lack of 
sustainable, reliable markets for the energy produced on farm has 
resulted in digesters not being economically viable for many farmers. 
We support the bipartisan Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act to 
create an investment tax credit to cover 30% of the up-front capital 
costs of installing digesters. This important bill also creates a 
similar credit for nutrient recovery systems which can separate manure 
nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, and enable dairy farmers to 
use these nutrients on and off the farm in a more sustainable manner. 
This bipartisan measure has begun to move forward in both chambers of 
Congress.
    In this vein, we also support expediting approval of animal feed 
additives with meaningful sustainability benefits for dairy. New 
additives such as plant extracts, fats, oils, and other byproducts can 
significantly improve digestibility and redirect production pathways of 
enteric methane emissions, reducing enteric emissions by 30% or more 
according to growing research. Current U.S. policy prevents timely 
market availability, hindering widespread adoption of these products. 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews and approves animal food 
ingredients to ensure their safety as they enter the marketplace, but 
it uses the same approval process it uses for antibiotics and hormones, 
even though feed additives move solely through the animal's digestive 
tract. This regulatory barrier encourages feed additive makers to 
bypass the U.S. on account of its market approval process in favor of 
other countries that have a more streamlined process. That puts U.S. 
dairy farmers at a disadvantage with our global competitors. NMPF 
thanks the Members of this Committee for securing funding and language 
in this year's pending budget bill to direct FDA to expedite approval 
and market delivery of these important feed additives.
    From an economic perspective, I also wish to emphasize how critical 
sustainability is for us to remain a competitive supplier to global 
markets, as more than 16% of U.S. milk production is exported overseas. 
With significant global interest in sustainable food production, the 
U.S. dairy sector is well positioned to meet the environmental demands 
of both domestic and global consumers. We stack up strongly compared to 
international competitors: Our farms have the lowest greenhouse gas 
footprint per gallon of milk compared to other suppliers around the 
world.\1\ But our competition is continually making investments and 
working to position their way of farming and their products as more 
sustainable. The type of support I outlined above is needed to counter 
that. We appreciate the work the U.S. government has done to advance a 
positive sustainability agenda during the U.N. Food Systems Summit 
process and more recently during the COP26 conference. With climate and 
sustainability issues commanding a greater focus worldwide than ever 
before, we as an industry are eager to work with this Committee and its 
other governmental partners to combat voices that are driving a harmful 
narrative that does a major injustice to dairy's proactive, producer-
led efforts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ FAO and GDP. 2018. Climate change and the global dairy cattle 
sector--The role of the dairy sector in a low-carbon future. Rome. 36 
pp. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA-3.0 IGO https://
dairysustainabilityframework.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Climate-
Change-and-the-Global-Dairy-Cattle-Sector.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion
    As I conclude, I want to note that the agriculture industry has 
been focused on sustainability for generations. While we might have 
talked about it differently before, our goal has always been to leave 
the land better for our children. We raise our families and our herds 
on the same land, drinking the same water and breathing the same air. 
Caring for what we have is part of who we are.
    Thank you for the opportunity to represent the dairy industry today 
during this important conversation on sustainability. As I said in my 
opening comments, sustainability can take many different forms, and 
ensuring that farms of all types and sizes can participate in this area 
is important as consumers here at home and abroad demand more. Your 
partnership can help us to fill in the policy gaps that dairy farmers 
need to make even further strides. If we work with one another, I am 
confident in our success. I look forward to your questions.

    The Chairman. Thank you, Melvin, and your family, and your 
comments, and we look forward to the opportunity to ask you 
some questions, and get some better insight on challenges you 
are facing. Our next witness is the Brackett family, the 
Brackett Ranches in Nevada and Idaho border, lands where they 
graze cattle, and are private lands owned by the family, and 
they also deal with Federal allotments owned by the Federal 
Government, and they manage in a partnership with Federal 
agencies. They have had a long history, and been involved with 
the National Cattlemen's Beef Board, and the Idaho Cattle 
Association, and have a long track record of experience in 
dealing with the challenges that the cattle industry faces. So 
at this time I would like to recognize Kim Brackett for your 
comments and testimony, and we look forward to hearing your 
thoughts.

 STATEMENT OF KIM BRACKETT, CO-OWNER, BRACKETT RANCHES, L.P.; 
 CHAIR, BEEF INDUSTRY LONG RANGE PLAN, HOMEDALE, ID; ON BEHALF 
            OF NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION

    Ms. Brackett. Thank you, Chairman Costa, Ranking Member 
Johnson, and Members of the Subcommittee for inviting me to 
testify today. My name is Kim Brackett, and together with my 
husband Ira, and our four children, we manage Brackett Ranches, 
which is a cow/calf operation on the Idaho and Nevada border. 
The lands where we graze our cattle are both private lands, 
which are owned by my family, and Federal allotments owned by 
the Federal Government, and managed in partnership with Federal 
agencies. As Chairman of the beef industry's 5 Year Strategic 
Plan Task Force, I can tell you that we have a key industry 
objective to intensify efforts in reaching, improving, and 
communicating U.S. beef industry sustainability, so I am very 
happy to be here today to talk with you about that work.
    Collectively, cattle producers in the United States manage 
livestock on approximately 815 million acres. That is nearly 
\1/3\ of our nation's continental land mass. In addition to 
providing grass for our cattle, pastures and rangeland provide 
important ecosystem services, sequestering carbon in the soil, 
naturally filtering water, and improving wildlife and habitat. 
The beef cattle industry has a great sustainability story. This 
is proven by generations of successful production. According to 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, direct emissions from 
beef cattle only represent two percent of all greenhouse gas 
emissions. Not only are beef cattle not significant 
contributors to the full emissions profile, the work cattle and 
cattle producers do helps to avoid other kinds of emissions, 
like those from catastrophic wildfire, and it makes lands more 
drought resilient.
    Cattle ranchers are the original protectors of 
biodiversity. My family and our ranch are no exception. One of 
the examples of this is that, for us to get drinking water to 
our cattle in our sagebrush country, we have an underground 
pipeline system that starts at the head of the Jarbidge 
Mountains, and runs 70 miles down that mountain, across the 
Bruneau Desert. Our pipeline system is a prime example of the 
value of a holistic, systems-based approach to managing our 
ranch. That pipeline provides water for our cattle, but it also 
brings drinking water to wildlife and birds on our rangelands. 
By maintaining and expanding this pipeline system over the 
years, we have increased wildlife and bird habitat, thus 
increasing biodiversity.
    Another example of a sustainable practice on our ranch is 
targeted grazing. When cattle are allowed to graze at the right 
time of year, it will reduce seed production, and reduce long-
term spread of invasive annual grasses that can be fuel for 
massive wildfires. Preserving these large, unbroken landscapes 
is critical for environmental health. When ranchers are 
regulated out of business, these vast lands are often divided 
and sold in small acre parcels, greatly impeding wildlife 
migratory habitats.
    Our industry came together last year to develop long-term 
sustainability goals. I would like to share those with you. Our 
industry has committed to: first, demonstrate the climate 
neutrality of U.S. cattle production by 2040; second, create 
and enhance opportunities that result in a quantifiable 
increase in producer profitability and economic sustainability; 
third, enhance trust in cattle producers as responsible 
stewards of their animals and resources by expanding 
educational opportunities in animal care and handling programs 
to further improve animal well-being; and fourth, to 
continuously improve our industry's workforce safety and well-
being. Our goals embrace the idea that sustainability is a 
three-legged stool. Cattle operations, and our industry, must 
be environmentally sensitive, economically viable, and socially 
responsible to stay in business.
    Every day our industry loses vital grasslands to 
development for other non-agricultural uses. It is of the 
utmost importance that we preserve our legacy carbon sinks 
across this country, especially our grazing lands. By creating 
private market value for ecosystem services, like wildlife 
habitat, water filtration, and carbon sequestration, we can 
ensure that grassland managers are being compensated for all 
the services they provide, food production and conservation. 
Congress also has an important role to play here, by ensuring 
that ranches can effectively be passed to the next generation, 
and by working to protect cattle producers from unaffordable 
regulatory burden. Combating regulatory burden is necessary to 
maximize our industry's potential to reduce emissions. Our 
family remains committed to environmentally, economically, and 
socially sustainable for generations to come. Thank you.
    [The prepared statement of Ms. Brackett follows:]

 Prepared Statement of Kim Brackett, Co-Owner, Brackett Ranches, L.P.; 
   Chair, Beef Industry Long Range Plan, Homedale, ID; on Behalf of 
                 National Cattlemen's Beef Association
    Thank you, Chairman Costa and Ranking Member Johnson, for inviting 
me to testify today. My name is Kim Brackett. Together with my husband, 
Ira, and four kids, we manage Brackett Ranches, a cow/calf operation on 
the Nevada and Idaho border. The lands where we graze our cattle are 
both our private lands, owned by my family, and Federal allotments, 
owned by the Federal Government and managed in partnership with the 
Federal agencies. By ranching on public lands, we invest our time, 
money, and energy in the lands and waters that are enjoyed by millions 
of people each year. Our work helps conserve water and plants, control 
fires, and protect wildlife habitat. I'm quite involved in the beef 
cattle industry, having served as the chair of the Idaho Beef Council, 
then the National Cattlemen's Beef Board, and I'm currently the 
President-Elect of the Idaho Cattle Association. I was also the chair 
of the National Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Board and the Beef 
Industry Long Range Plan Task Force, where I led the development of the 
beef industry's 5 year strategic plan. Outside of the Beef industry, I 
serve on the boards of Colorado State University's AgNext and the 
Intermountain West Joint Venture. Our industry's 5 year plan includes a 
key industry objective to ``intensify efforts in researching, 
improving, and communicating U.S. beef industry sustainability'' and 
I'm happy to be here today to talk with you about that work.
    The beef cattle industry has a great sustainability story that is 
rooted in science and proven by generations of successful production. 
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, direct emissions 
from beef cattle only represent 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions in 
the country. A recent study published by the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture found that emissions from cattle ``were not a significant 
contributor to long-term global warming.'' Not only are beef cattle not 
significant contributors to the full emissions profile, the work cattle 
and cattle producers do helps to avoid other kinds of emissions, like 
those from catastrophic wildfire, and makes lands more resilient 
nationwide.
    Collectively, cattle producers in the United States manage 
livestock on approximately 815 million acres, nearly \1/3\ of our 
nation's continental land mass. In addition to providing grass for our 
cattle, pastures and rangeland provide important ecosystem services--
sequestering carbon in the soil, naturally filtering water, and 
improving wildlife and habitat. Since our livelihood is made on the 
land, through the utilization of our natural resources, being good 
stewards of the land not only makes good environmental sense, it is 
fundamental for our industry to remain economically viable. The 
positive role of cattle and beef in a healthy, sustainable food system 
came to light when the cattle industry came together to develop long-
term sustainability goals this past year. But before I get to the 
goals, I want to tell you about my family ranch.
    Taking care of the land is a top priority for our ranch, as well as 
most ranches in the United States. To get drinking water to the cattle 
in this sagebrush country, we have an underground pipeline system that 
starts in the Jarbidge mountains and runs 70 miles down the mountain 
and across the desert country. There are numerous spurs off that main 
pipeline that carry water to various troughs in different fields and 
allotments. Not only did this system provide water for the livestock in 
the area, but it increased wildlife habitat as well. Water is the 
lifeblood of western ecosystems that are often dry and desolate, so 
wildlife flock to water sources. Antelope, deer and even elk now reside 
on our ranch due to the water troughs. In addition, each trough has a 
bird ladder built from expanded metal that allows birds and small 
animals to access the water at any level. The pipeline system is a 
prime example of the value of a holistic, systems-based approach to 
managing our ranch. Introducing the water and using cattle grazing, we 
were able to revitalize the native grasses that for so long had 
suffered due to drought and non-management. On our ranch, we use 
grazing as a tool to address invasive growth, and encourage native 
forages. Invasive grasses often siphon water resources, reducing 
overall grassland health. Grazing at the right time of the year will 
reduce flower and seed production and reduce long-term spread. Once we 
brought back the native grasses in that area, the wildlife soon 
followed. In other words, our work directly increased the biodiversity 
of these public lands.
    Cattle ranchers are the original protectors of biodiversity. All 
wildlife species, including imperiled species, like the lesser prairie 
chicken, or even a predator species, such as wolves, have seen their 
populations improve due to the careful stewardship of cattle ranchers. 
We frequently see upland game birds like chukars, mountain quail, and 
sage grouse, plus a tremendous diversity of songbirds on our ranch. 
Growing bird populations on a ranch are reflective of a growing 
diversity of grass, forages, and insects. They are all species that 
thrive in healthy soils. Essentially, an expansion in bird populations 
reflects an ecosystem that is improving overall soil health.
    Preserving these large, unbroken landscapes is critical to habitat 
conservation and the ultimate success of local wildlife. When ranchers 
are regulated out of business, these vast lands are often divided and 
sold in small-acre parcels, greatly impeding the migratory habits of 
these species. Put simply, wildlife depends on the work that we do to 
maintain water sources, foster robust forage production, and keep 
landscapes intact.
    Beyond improving the land, our ranch is an example of how cattle 
ranchers use various technologies to help the animals to increase 
efficiency, thereby mitigating environmental impact. This increase in 
efficiency and quality of cattle has always been a part of the 
rancher's toolkit. Through genetic testing, we determine which of our 
bulls is superior in the traits that enhance meat quality, feed 
efficiency, and growth--as well as mothering ability, docility, 
fertility and calving ease. Efficiency traits directly affect beef 
sustainability; an animal who will reach harvest faster and yet produce 
a high-quality meat product will impact the environment for a shorter 
period of time. These technological enhancements are vital to 
increasing efficiency and therefore environmental impact of the 
nation's cowherd. This technology allows us to produce the same amount 
of beef today that we were producing in the 1970's with 33 percent 
fewer animals. Not only are we better at producing beef today with 
fewer animals, we're also able to much better measure and target 
specific environmental goals through careful grazing management.
    Another way that our ranch, and many others in America, are 
directly impacting the environment in a positive way is by ``up-
cycling''. Cattle are amazing in that they can eat grass, which is 
inedible to humans, to create a high value, nutrient dense protein 
product. Often, the conversation about western rangelands, particularly 
those now managed as ``public land'' includes terms like ``marginal''. 
Largely, these lands were the areas not homesteaded because there 
wasn't a nearby water source, and crop production would be more 
difficult than the more fertile lowland areas. Through selection of 
livestock and use of their natural grazing skills, we're able to 
provide a nutrient-rich protein product that gives back to the 
environment at every turn.
    Animal welfare is the foundation of every socially responsible 
livestock operation. Ranchers continually work to improve the health 
and well-being of their animals, using new technologies and 
innovations. In terms of sustainability and climate, antibiotics are an 
important technology that maintains healthy cattle which allows the 
animals to utilize feed and water resources efficiently. A sick animal 
takes longer to gain weight and/or reproduce and that results in larger 
environmental footprint. Judicious and responsible use of antibiotics 
ensures that we will be able to protect animal health and raise animals 
in the most environmentally friendly way we can.
    But when we talk about social sustainability, animal welfare is 
only the beginning. Farmers and ranchers are not just business owners, 
but also community members. Our ranch works with Field of Dreams--a 
nonprofit that allows us to host veterans for elk hunts. As 
conservators of America's grasslands, we look for every opportunity to 
make sure that our community gets to enjoy all the land provides. We 
strive to be good environmental stewards, good business-owners, and 
good neighbors.
    Now about those goals! Our industry came together last year to 
develop first-of-their-kind long-term sustainability goals. These goals 
required many months of development through the engagement of 
grassroots producers. The final product is impressive: a commitment to 
be at the table as a solution and work together to improve upon what we 
do. Without further ado, the cattle industry has committed to:

   Demonstrate the climate neutrality of U.S. cattle production 
        by 2040.

   Create and enhance opportunities that result in a 
        quantifiable increase in producer profitability and economic 
        sustainability by 2025.

   Enhance trust in cattle producers as responsible stewards of 
        their animals and resources by expanding educational 
        opportunities in animal care and handling programs to further 
        improve animal well-being.

   Continuously improve our industry's workforce safety and 
        well-being.

    Our goals embrace the idea that sustainability is a three-legged 
stool: cattle operations, and our industry, must be environmentally 
sensitive, economically viable, and socially responsible in order to 
stay in business. And these three legs rely on each other; a ranch that 
is regulated out of business is not only economically unsustainable, 
but is no longer able to provide vital ecosystem services and help 
support rural ecosystems. An operation that does not adequately care 
for or handle their animals will likely see less return on their 
investment. While all of the goals are vital to ensure the longevity of 
our industry, I'd like to dive into our industry's goal to demonstrate 
climate neutrality.
    In order to demonstrate the climate neutrality of U.S. cattle 
production by 2040, we must ensure that the United States and our 
global partners are using the most accurate and up-to-date science 
related to emissions intensity measurement. GWP*, developed by a team 
of researchers at Oxford University, seeks to provide an accurate 
accounting of emissions' impact on long-term global warming, giving 
policymakers a more accurate view of how to best curb the generational 
impacts of GHG emissions on the climate.
    The U.S. cattle industry boasts the lowest emissions intensity per 
pound of beef of any beef-producing country in the world, and have done 
so since 1996. This is largely due to our technological innovation, 
improved herd genetics, and enhanced grazing management practices. This 
work has reduced our emissions per pound of beef by more than 40% since 
1960. But our industry didn't become the global leader in sustainable 
beef production by resting on its laurels--we know that continuous 
improvement is an integral part of our industry's long-term success. 
We're excited about innovations related to feed additives that will 
reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation, and new manure 
management technology. The Federal Government has an important role to 
play; by ensuring that these technologies are not caught in a world of 
regulatory red tape, and funding important research, Congress and the 
Administration can ensure that emissions-reducing technology is made 
accessible, sooner.
    But we know that technological innovation is only half of the 
equation. Every day, our industry loses vital grasslands to development 
or other uses. Of the utmost importance is preserving legacy carbon 
sinks across our country--especially grazing lands. By creating private 
market value for ecosystem services like wildlife habitat, water 
filtration, and carbon sequestration, we can ensure that grassland 
managers are being compensated for all the services they provide--food 
production and conservation. Congress also has an important role to 
play here--by ensuring that ranches can effectively be passed to the 
next generation, and by working to protect cattle producers from 
unaffordable regulatory burden. Regulatory burden can come in a variety 
of ways--frivolous petitions to create new regulations, resource-
intensive approval processes, and overly broad rules applied to the 
day-to-day activities of agricultural producers. Combating all sources 
of regulatory burden is necessary to maximize our industry's potential 
to reduce emissions.
    Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony today. The U.S. 
cattle industry is proud of its history as stewards of our nation's 
resources. The industry takes very seriously its obligation to protect 
the environment while providing the nation with a safe and affordable 
beef supply. Cattle producers are America's original conservationists, 
and we work hard every day to ensure that we can pass our operations on 
to the next generation. Our family, and America's cattle producers, are 
committed to remaining environmentally, economically, and socially 
sustainable for generations to come.

    The Chairman. Thank you very much, Ms. Brackett, for your 
comments, and I think your illustration of how you have been 
able to manage your own family's livestock operation in a 
responsible way, and certainly your recommendations are well 
taken. I failed to note, for Members of the Subcommittee and 
for our witnesses, that we are being televised this morning, 
today, on C-SPAN, so you can certainly let your constituents 
back home, and those family members can see this being 
televised live throughout the country.
    Our next witness we have is an individual who, in part, 
closes the loop in our efforts to talk about the entirety of 
how we produce food, as I said, throughout the country on a 
regional basis that ultimately gets to America's dinner table. 
And clearly, as I said, food is a national security issue, and 
I get frustrated on occasion that sometimes too many Americans 
think that their food comes from their grocery store or their 
favorite restaurant. Not that that is bad, we obviously get our 
food from multiple sources, but it is important that we know, 
ultimately, the challenge of producing that food to our 
family's dinner table, or to our favorite restaurant.
    Which I think is a good lead-on for our next witness, Mr. 
Ernie Meier. He chairs the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable 
Poultry and Eggs, and Director of Quality Systems for U.S. 
Supply Chain, part of McDonald's U.S.A. Chicago operations, and 
a person that I think can provide some meaningful testimony. We 
all deserve a break today, and, Mr. Meier, if you can provide 
us with that effort, we certainly would like to get your 
insight on kind of where you see the challenges making that 
food available to the American consumer. You may begin your 
testimony.

     STATEMENT OF ERNIE MEIER, CHAIR, U.S. ROUNDTABLE FOR 
         SUSTAINABLE POULTRY & EGGS; DIRECTOR, QUALITY 
    SYSTEMS, U.S. SUPPLY CHAIN, McDONALD'S USA, CHICAGO, IL

    Mr. Meier. Thank you, Chairman Costa. Hello, my name is 
Ernie Meier, and I am the Director of Quality, U.S. Supply 
Chain, for McDonald's U.S.A., and I am the current Chair of the 
U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs, which I will 
refer to as the Roundtable, or U.S. RSPE, going forward. As a 
multi-stakeholder, independent, and nonprofit organization, the 
Roundtable was put together to represent the entire supply 
chain of U.S. poultry and ag industries. We are grateful for 
the invitation to speak with the Subcommittee, and share what 
we have learned facing the same issues you are as a 
Subcommittee, and as Representatives. We currently have full 
time membership commitments from almost 100 farms, 
organizations, and individuals, with national and international 
business reach that include more than 500 individual experts. 
They range across all disciplines of our business, from those 
that directly care for birds, to companies like McDonald's, 
offering poultry and egg products to our end customers. Each of 
these individuals is plugged into the Roundtable, and working 
on our shared goal, to continuously improve the sustainability 
of U.S. poultry and egg supply chains.
    We believe the most successful, sustainable tools are 
created by both those implementing them, and those impacted by 
them. Every member has an equal vote in our structure, to allow 
optimal collaboration, and much of our work is open to public 
input. We are driven by a diverse group, with varying resources 
and sizes. For more than 3 years, farmers, integrators, 
researchers, grocery stores, animal health companies, 
environmental groups, equipment companies, and restaurant 
chains have actively been working to build the connections and 
tools we need to help meet modern food system challenges, and 
continuously improve our sustainability.
    Our approach to sustainability is pragmatic and holistic. 
We work to identify solutions that are environmentally sound, 
socially responsible, and economically viable. What is unique 
about the Roundtable is that we are a community and catalyst 
for progress. We are encouraging improvement by helping 
facilitate connections, providing access to expertise, and 
removing barriers to advancement, without ostracizing 
stakeholders. The most effective sustainability strategies are 
based on sound data and comprehensive, repeatable measurements. 
The Roundtable, and its members, have invested their own 
significant time and resources into developing the first ever 
full supply chain sustainability framework for U.S. chicken, 
turkey, and eggs, which I will refer to, going forward, as the 
framework.
    We completed the development process in December of last 
year, and are full speed to create the software tool to collect 
the data within this year, and there is a lot of data to 
collect. The scale and importance of poultry in the diet of 
Americans, and our world, continues to grow. Poultry is the 
most consumed protein due to its accessibility to all cultures, 
affordability in relation to its nutrition, and ease for at-
home cooking and quick service food. It is also a pillar for 
the food and agricultural industry, generating more than $576 
billion in annual economic impact, and $41.9 billion in taxes, 
with more than two million workers employed by the poultry and 
egg supply chains.
    What shifted lately is the push up and down supply chain. 
It is not enough for us to have fantastic sustainability 
programs at McDonald's and at our suppliers. We must have 
everything put together from the very beginning, from the feed 
for the birds, and to the delivery of our food across the 
country. McDonald's has taken learnings from the Roundtable, 
and committed and invested millions of dollars in partnership 
programs with its suppliers to increase the sustainability of 
its poultry supply chain. One example of this is the roundtable 
partnership, and the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry 
and Eggs sustainability framework. Another project example is 
the SMART Broiler project, focused on innovation in outcomes-
based poultry welfare assessments.
    I share this with you today to offer some good news and 
reassurance that the entire poultry supply chain is behind 
proactively improving and communicating about their 
sustainability, not resisting it. In poultry, we are not 
divided by industry or discipline, but have found a way to work 
together at a higher pre-competitive level to find the paths 
that work for everyone. McDonald's is proud to be part of this 
rapidly growing organization, and its projects, and to speak 
with you about this work. From investing in renewable energy, 
and partnering with organizations such as the Roundtable to 
advance sustainability and regenerative agricultural practices, 
we also want to help protect our planet for communities today, 
and in the future.
    Your effort to secure funding and direction that provide 
resources to the number one most consumed protein in the United 
States will be put to good use, and amplified by independent 
efforts like those of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable 
Poultry and Eggs. I will do my best to entertain questions you 
have. In specific areas I can speak to in my position and 
experience, and I will take any questions that I cannot answer 
back to the Roundtable, and tap into our community of experts 
for more information. Thank you for your time and interest in 
the U.S. poultry ag sector.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Meier follows:]

     Prepared Statement of Ernie Meier, Chair, U.S. Roundtable for 
  Sustainable Poultry & Eggs; Director, Quality Systems, U.S. Supply 
                   Chain, McDonald's USA, Chicago, IL
Introduction
    Hello, my name is Ernie Meier, and I am the director of quality, 
U.S. supply chain, for McDonald's USA, and I am the current chair of 
the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs, which I will refer 
to as ``the Roundtable'' or ``US-RSPE'' going forward.
    As a multi-stakeholder, independent, and nonprofit organization, 
the Roundtable was put together to represent the entire supply chains 
of U.S. poultry and egg products. We are grateful for the invitation to 
speak with this Subcommittee and share what we have learned facing the 
same issues you are--as a Subcommittee and as Representatives.
    We currently have full-time membership commitments from almost 100 
farms, organizations and individuals with national and international 
business reach that include more than 500 individual experts. They 
range across all disciplines of our business from those that directly 
care for birds to companies like McDonald's offering poultry and egg 
products to our end customers. Each of these individuals is plugged 
into the Roundtable and working on our shared goal to continuously 
improve the sustainability of U.S. poultry and egg supply chains.

    We believe the most successful sustainability tools are created by 
both those implementing them and those impacted by them.

    Every member has an equal vote in our structure to allow optimal 
collaboration and much of our work is open to public input. We are 
driven by a diverse group with varying resources and sizes.
    For more than 3 years, farmers, integrators, researchers, grocery 
stores, animal health companies, environmental groups, welfare 
organizations, equipment companies and restaurant chains such as 
McDonald's have been actively working to build the connections and 
tools we need to help to meet modern food system challenges and 
continuously improve our sustainability.
The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs Approach
    Our approach to sustainability is pragmatic and holistic. 
Sustainability, like food safety, is good for everyone in the industry 
and our customers. We assess our impacts and benefits in relation to 
our poultry, our planet and its people. We work to identify solutions 
that are environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically 
viable.
    What's unique about the Roundtable is that we are a community and 
catalyst for progress. We are encouraging improvement by helping 
facilitate connections, provide access to expertise and remove barriers 
to advancement without ostracizing stakeholders.
    The most effective sustainability strategies are based on sound 
data and comprehensive, repeatable measurement. The Roundtable and its 
members have invested their own significant time and resources into 
developing the first-ever full supply chain sustainability framework 
for U.S. chicken, turkey and eggs (which I will refer to going forward 
as ``the Framework''). We completed the development process in December 
last year and are in full speed to create the software tool to collect 
the data within this year.
Positive Outlook for Poultry & Egg Sectors
    And there's a lot of data to collect. The scale and importance of 
poultry in the diet of Americans and our world continues to grow. 
Poultry is the most consumed protein due to its accessibility to all 
cultures, affordability in relation to its nutrition and ease for at-
home cooking and quick service-food. It's also a pillar of the food and 
agriculture industry, generating more than $576 billion in annual 
economic impact and $41.9 billion in taxes with more than two million 
workers employed by the poultry and egg supply chains.\1\ (That's a lot 
of effort and people making your chicken nuggets and sandwiches 
possible.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.uspoultry.org/economic-data/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    When we say, ``billions served,'' we're not just talking about 
burgers. We're talking about serving our communities, customers, crew, 
farmers, franchisees and suppliers. What's shifted lately is the push 
up and down the supply chain. It's not enough for us to have fantastic 
sustainability programs at McDonald's and at our suppliers. We must 
have everything put together from the very beginning, from the feed for 
the birds and to delivery of our food across the country.
    McDonald's has taken learnings from the Roundtable and committed 
and invested millions of dollars in partnership projects with its 
suppliers to increase the sustainability of its poultry supply chain. 
One example of this is the Roundtable partnership and the US-RSPE 
Sustainability Framework. Another type of project example is the SMART 
Broiler project focused on innovation in outcomes-based poultry welfare 
assessments. This work is currently underway with matching funding from 
the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. It is an innovation-
focused effort using leading edge technology, and McDonald's is not 
retaining intellectual property on this project, so that it can benefit 
the sector as whole.
Conclusions
    I share this with you today to offer some good news and reassurance 
that the entire poultry supply chain is behind proactively improving 
and communicating about their sustainability--not resisting it. In 
poultry, we are not divided by industry or discipline but have found a 
way to work together at a higher, precompetitive level to find paths 
that work for everyone. Our farmers, equipment manufacturers and 
veterinarians work side by side with environmental groups, welfare 
organizations and consumer-facing businesses such as McDonald's and 
food retailers to improve together. McDonald's is proud to be a part of 
this rapidly growing organization and its projects and to speak with 
you about this work. From minimizing how much packaging we use to 
investing in renewable energy and partnering with organizations such as 
the Roundtable to advance sustainable and regenerative agriculture 
practices--we want to help protect our planet for communities today and 
in the future.

    Your efforts to secure funding and direction that provide resources 
to the No. 1 most consumed protein in the United States will be put to 
good use and amplified by independent efforts like those of the U.S. 
Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs.

    I'll do my best now to entertain any questions you have. I have 
specific areas I can speak to in my position and experience. I will 
take any questions I cannot answer today back to the Roundtable and tap 
into our community of experts for more information. Thank you for your 
time and interest in the U.S. poultry and egg sector.
    Additional specific issue inquiries are welcome and can be brought 
to US-RSPE experts for consideration at any time by contacting US-RSPE 
staff.
    This testimony was respectfully submitted on February 1, 2022, by 
Ernie Meier, director of quality, McDonald's USA, and chair of the U.S. 
Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs and prepared with support 
from staff from the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs.
More About the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs
Create, Collect and Communicate Objective Sustainability Data--
The US-RSPE Sustainability Framework
    Logically, the first of what we call ``movable boulders'' in our 
way was that lack of objective, comprehensive and consistently measured 
sustainability data at the supply chain level. Temple Grandin says it 
regarding welfare, but it applies to sustainability as well when she 
says that you cannot improve what you aren't measuring. We need 
measures. We are always looking for more support to expedite our work 
from USDA and other means, but the Roundtable determined we could not 
wait to start building.
    Thankfully, we began this work before COVID-19 altered our way of 
work and life, and we have been able to march ahead quickly and stay 
connected virtually to complete the first-ever full supply chain 
sustainability framework for U.S. chicken, turkey and eggs (which I 
will refer to going forward as ``the Framework''). We wrapped the 
development process in December last year and are in full speed to 
create the software tool to collect the data within this year.
    The US-RSPE Sustainability Framework is structured to address the 
areas of greatest priority to the supply chain and its stakeholders 
(Figure 1). They were selected and agreed upon by our multi-stakeholder 
working group and informed by our public and private comment period 
input processes. Within each of these areas are custom metrics that 
will challenge users to measure and track indicators of sustainability 
within that area with varying levels of complexity and advancement. In 
essence, they form the roadmap for any part of the poultry and egg 
supply chain to see how they contribute to the sustainability of the 
whole and see where they need to be improving.
    The results of this effort will yield an objective data set on the 
current sustainability of U.S. chicken, turkey and eggs that will 
better inform and expedite improvement projects such as technology 
innovations, pilot projects, grants and more to ensure that poultry 
products are sustainably produced and available--meeting the 
expectations of U.S. citizens and our global customers while 
strengthening the supply chain. We hope to have enough participation in 
this voluntary project to release data as early as next year and hold 
confidence in the accuracy of the data as sample of the whole sector.
Figure 1
US-RSPE Sustainability Framework
(Finalized December 2021)

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

          The US-RSPE Sustainability Framework is a trade secret. Do 
        not circulate. Information contained in this document is 
        provided for informational purposes only.
           2022 U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable 
        Poultry & Eggs
How It Works
    Each entity (farmer, processor, integrator, breeder, retailer, 
restaurant, etc.) will complete a series of 101 metrics across 15 
priority areas with their individual and/or partner data. This will be 
anonymized and aggregated into data on the supply chain level by 
product (chicken, turkey or eggs) to provide an objective and holistic 
look at the sustainability of poultry production. Our first year will 
be to set that crucial baseline and give everyone working on solutions 
a gut-check on if they're working in the right areas. From there, we 
can expedite progress in sustainability by having a clear picture of 
the true hot spots and success stories to calibrate our efforts for the 
more efficient and impactful sustainability investments we can make. 
Right now, it is overwhelming to look at the areas in need of 
improvement as a never-ending to-do list instead of being able to 
triage areas based on impact and opportunity for improvements.
Development Process
    Far beyond anything tackled by this industry before, comments and 
member engagement incorporated input from consumers, world-renowned 
researchers, environmental groups, feed associations, farmer-led 
organizations, welfare experts, social compliance and safety 
organizations, restaurant chains, retailers and grocery stores and 
poultry producers, processors, suppliers, breeders and everyone in 
between in allied industries. The development process included two 
recently completed public comment periods, which generated just under 
200 comments, and eight full supply chain pilot assessments across 
three industries (chicken, turkey and eggs) completed earlier this 
year.
Securing Participation
    US-RSPE has built the Framework to be scalable to meet users where 
they are in their sustainability progress, offering options to measure 
using multiple levels of metrics. The flexibility included in the US-
RSPE Framework allows for internal progress to be fueled in tandem with 
supply-chain level efforts, showing each entity their strengths, 
weaknesses and what they should be working on to improve and contribute 
to a sustainably produced protein product.
Sidebar:
Public Excerpts From Supporting Partners
          ``What we're building here will be instantly useful. People 
        want to know how poultry and eggs reach their tables 
        sustainably. With the US-RSPE Framework metrics, we will be 
        able to answer the call to provide transparent reporting on the 
        sustainable processes in place and build better plans to 
        improve . . . In a time where numerous requests are being made 
        to complete surveys and sign onto commitments that have varying 
        approaches and intentions, I am most excited about the US-RSPE 
        Sustainability Framework. Because it was built specifically for 
        poultry and eggs, I can integrate it into our existing 
        sustainability easily. And I'm confident the metrics included 
        are important to our stakeholders.''
 Lankford Ruffin, director of environmental affairs and sustainability 
                                                        for Butterball.
          ``As protein demand continues to rise globally, it's more 
        critical than ever that poultry products are produced in a way 
        that conserves finite resources and considers impacts like land 
        use, water quality and waste produced. This collaboration is 
        essential to continue to raise the bar on advancing U.S. 
        leadership in sustainable protein.''
       Courtney Hall, director of sustainable livestock systems, World 
                                                         Wildlife Fund.
          ``The setup of the Framework allows all our growers to get a 
        more accurate picture of their own sustainability and challenge 
        them to improve significantly without overwhelming them with 
        unattainable goals. What a lot of these types of tools that are 
        out there now lack is scalability and an understanding of the 
        complexities of the poultry supply chain.''
         John Starkey, President of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
          ``We know our customers are increasingly interested in 
        knowing more about their food and where it comes from, which in 
        turn guides our company's broader commitments on food quality 
        and sourcing. Our work with the US-RSPE not only aligns with 
        our current supply chain standards, but also furthers our work 
        to advance environmentally and socially conscious practices for 
        the animals in our supply chain while allowing us to meet 
        customer expectations.''
                   Ernie Meier, director of quality for McDonald's USA.
          ``It's really exciting to be able to do this work and see all 
        parts of the supply chain, even those that your company doesn't 
        take part in and may be several steps up or downstream from 
        where you are, come together to create a clear picture of our 
        sustainability.''
               Kristin Tupa, sustainability manager at Cargill Protein.
          ``We've built the one thing everyone needs but nobody has 
        yet. With the US-RSPE Framework metrics, organizations will be 
        able to provide transparent reporting on their sustainability 
        and build plans to improve.''
                           Ryan Bennett, executive director of US-RSPE.
          ``To secure a thriving food system for the future, the food 
        industry has an opportunity--and responsibility--to help 
        mitigate the impacts of climate change and find more 
        sustainable ways to feed people. I'm proud of McDonald's 
        commitment to accelerate action and achieve the widespread 
        adoption of more sustainable practices, even as we navigate the 
        impact of COVID-19. Drawing on the support of our Franchises, 
        suppliers and producers we can continue to build a more 
        sustainable and resilient industry.''
       Francesca DeBiase, Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain 
                                       Officer, McDonald's Corporation.
More About McDonald's USA
   As the global population grows, we need to feed more people 
        in increasingly sustainable ways. McDonald's can use our scale 
        to play an important role \2\ in that effort.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-purpose-and-impact/
our-planet.html.

   We believe that more of our food can be produced in a way 
        that not only protects the environment and contributes 
        positively to a thriving global food system but also helps 
        rehabilitate and enhance ecosystems around farms through better 
        soil health, improved water management and increased 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        biodiversity.

   We've made it a global priority to champion sustainability 
        efforts across our supply chain, starting in the areas where we 
        believe we can have the largest impact.

   We have identified seven priority impact areas for us to 
        address through our goals:

     Climate change

     Farmer livelihoods

     Protecting water resources

     Conserving forests

     Reducing food and packaging waste

     Respecting human rights

     Promoting the health and welfare of animals

   In 2018, we became the world's first restaurant company to 
        set a science-based target to reduce GHG emissions related to 
        McDonald's restaurants, as well as reduce emissions intensity 
        (per metric ton of food and packaging) across our supply chain.

   McDonald's suppliers representing approximately 80% of our 
        spend are asked to report to CDP \3\ on Climate Change and 
        Forests efforts, including 100% of our globally managed beef, 
        chicken, dairy and cheese suppliers. We regularly update this 
        guidance and assess emerging risks across the supply chain.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ https://www.cdp.net/en.

   Across the globe, our markets are in various phases of 
        strategy development, and in 2020 we launched a new internal 
        climate data and insights platform to support market-level 
        local climate strategies and track progress.
McDonald's Commitment To Sustainability Projects: Smart Broiler
    In October of 2017, McDonald's committed to an outcome-based 
chicken welfare strategy. This means McDonald's would establish 
standardized Key Welfare Indicators (KWI's), KWIs are similar to a 
business Key Performance Indicator and provide an overall indication of 
the welfare environment a bird has had throughout its life.
    Once established, McDonald's will collect KWIs across its global 
chicken supply chain and aggregate the outcomes in a database format. 
We then utilize that information to inform where improvement 
opportunities exist, set improvement targets, then work with our 
suppliers to continually improve. This allows the birds to tell us 
where improvements are needed on an ongoing basis.
    McDonald's understood that in order to gather KWI's in a 
standardized and representative way we would need to utilize 
technology. Unfortunately, that technology did not yet commercially 
exist, especially to gather welfare data at the farm level.
    To address this, McDonald's committed $2 million to identify and 
advance technologies that measure and report chicken welfare at the 
farm level, specifically focusing on monitoring bird leg health, 
walking ability and activity & behavior.
    McDonald's partnered with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture 
Research (FFAR) to establish the SMART (Sensing, Monitoring, Reporting, 
Technology) Broiler Program.\4\ FFAR Matched McDonald's $2 million and 
together we launched a global, public request for proposals. We 
understood that technologies that supported our goals existed in other 
business sectors, they just hadn't yet been applied to animal welfare 
or agriculture. To support these efforts The U.S. Poultry and Egg 
Association, Amazon Web Services and Accenture joined as program 
sponsors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ https://foundationfar.org/programs/smart-broiler/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The proposal process received submissions from all over the world 
and six leading solutions were selected for the SMART Broiler Program.
    SMART Broiler researchers are nearing the end of Phase 1 research 
trials where they are working to demonstrate proof of concept of their 
original proposals. Those that demonstrate the most future promise and 
value will be refunded for Phase 2 trials to bring their technologies 
closer to commercialization.

          ** McDonald's and FFAR are not retaining any intellectual 
        property through the program. The intent is to help evolve 
        solutions that assist in better understanding and improving 
        welfare.
More Resources on Poultry Sector Sustainability

   The U.S. broiler industry recently conducted and update on a 
        full life cycle assessment.

     Between 2010 and 2020 in the broiler chicken sector, 
            resources needed and output declined while productivity 
            increased. (LCA).\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ https://nccsite.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/
Broiler-Production-System-LCA_2020-Update.pdf.

     Intensity measures declined. For every kilogram of 
            live weight of broiler produced during the 10 year time 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            period:

       Land use was reduced by 13%.

       Water consumption was reduced 13%.

       Greenhouse gas emissions were reduced 18%.

       Fossil resources use reduced 22%.

       Particulate forming emissions were reduced by 22%.

   On-farm broiler mortality rates have reduced 72% since 1925 
        to 2020 (LCA).\5\

   OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses reduced by 86% in the 
        last 25 years (1995-2020) (LCA).\5\

   An estimated 65% of the cost of raising a chicken is the 
        feed (NCC).

   The top export markets of U.S. chicken meat are Mexico, 
        China, Taiwan, Cuba and Canada (2020 USDA/Economic Research 
        Service).\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ https://www.uspoultry.org/economic-data/.

   The top export markets of U.S. turkey meat are Mexico, 
        China, Canada, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic (2020 USDA/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Economic Research Service).\6\

   The combined value of production from broilers, eggs, 
        turkeys, and the value of sales from chickens in 2020 was $35.5 
        billion, down 11% from $40.0 billion in 2019. Of the combined 
        total, 61% was from broilers, 24% from eggs, 15% from turkeys, 
        and less than 1% from chickens (Source: USDA/NASS Poultry 
        Production and Value 2020 Summary).\6\ The 2022 estimates 
        indicate a recovery back to growth.

   The prevalence of Salmonella in raw chicken is at an all-
        time low. 88% of all broiler establishments are meeting and 
        exceeding the FSIS performance standard for Salmonella on 
        chicken parts like wings, breast and drumsticks (NCC).\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\ https://www.chickencheck.in/sustainability/.

   Over 95% of poultry litter is recycled and reused to 
        fertilize crops. Farmers collect and store litter to be used as 
        an organic fertilizer for crops, creating a closed nutrient 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        loop (NCC).

   Today, about \1/3\ less water and \1/2\ the amount of feed 
        are required to produce a dozen eggs versus the water and feed 
        used in the 1960s.

   Landmark 50 Year Study Documents U.S. Egg Industry Reduced 
        Environmental Footprint (American Egg Board).

   Similarly, compared with 1960 laying hens, 2010 laying hens 
        have:

     26 percent less daily feed use

     27 percent higher hen-day egg production

     42 percent better feed conversion

     57 percent lower mortality

     32 percent less direct water use per dozen eggs 
            produced

   The analysis showed the following reductions in the 
        environmental footprint per kg of eggs produced in the U.S. 
        over the 50 year time interval considered:

     65 percent lower acidifying emissions

     71 percent lower eutrophying emissions

     71 percent lower GHG emissions

     31 percent lower CED

    The Chairman. Well thank you very much, Mr. Meier, for 
providing that perspective with the egg and poultry sector, and 
the issue of sustainability, which is obviously the subject 
matter of our hearing today, and environmental gain and 
economic viability. You did reference, on a number of your 
comments, the supply chain challenges we face, and while it is 
not the subject matter of today's hearing, we have all been 
dealing, over the last 20+ months of these impacts, especially 
early on, when we closed schools and restaurants, and really 
taking a very complicated and complex supply chain for 
America's food and turning it upside down, and certainly there 
have been lessons to learn from that.
    But we are now in the phase of the Subcommittee hearing 
that I enjoy, where Members of the Committee get a chance to 
ask questions or make comments to the various witnesses that we 
have had here this morning, and you have all done an excellent 
job. I want to thank each of you for your testimony this 
morning. By tradition, we will recognize Members in the order 
that they have come to participate with the Committee, and 
Committee staff has a list of all of you who are very patient 
in listening, and waiting for your opportunity to ask 
questions, to make comments. I will begin, as the Chairman, 
recognizing myself for 5 minutes, and then refer to the Ranking 
Member for his 5 minutes, and then we will alternate, as is 
tradition, Democratic, Republican, Democratic, Republican, 
until all the Members of the Subcommittee have had an 
opportunity, and the full Committee that are participating, to 
exercise the time available to them.
    As I mentioned previously, climate change obviously impacts 
not only regions of our country, but regions of the world, 
given weather pattern and geography, so we continue to learn 
more each day on how we mitigate the impacts of these climate 
change. My first question is to Mr. Medeiros. As a producer, 
you, as noted, are stewards of the land, you and your family, 
and you have made many changes, in terms of your dairy 
operation. What USDA tools or programs do you think have been 
most critical in helping you accomplish these goals in reducing 
greenhouse gases, and nitrate issues with your water, and how 
can we improve those efforts in next year's farm bill?
    Mr. Medeiros. Well, great question, Jim. And I am going to 
go back in history a little bit. I was actually--2005 I had 
applied for an NRCS grant, and put together probably one of the 
first nutrient management programs on my dairy, at that time, 
and saw that I was one of the first dairies to do that. And, 
right at first, climate change and none of that was on the 
radar yet. Well, through that NRCS program, I was able to 
implement a nutrient management program, and started to see the 
benefits of being able to move manure in a more efficient way 
across my farm, and able to capture those benefits on my farm 
from a methane--reducing my methane output, and being able to 
utilize that nutrient management program on my crops, and 
better utilize that.
    So, funding through NRCS, EQIP programs, those are all 
extremely valuable tools for producers today, and going 
forward, we need that funding to continue because one shoe 
doesn't fit all. We have to remember that digesters will not 
end up in every dairy, because they are just not economically 
feasible, but there are so many other things we can do in our 
industry. Through manure management and through technology, we 
have figured out there are ways that we can move manure, 
separate manure, and apply manure so much more efficient today, 
and utilize those benefits on our farms. Corroborating with 
NRCS and the EQIP programs, those give us the resources to 
where we can do it on a voluntary basis, and address all these 
climate changes that we are facing.
    The Chairman. Well, I might have to come out and see some 
of the changes you have made there, and let us try to schedule 
that soon. Ms. Burroughs, you talked about being the front line 
of climate change as farmers, using sustainable practices that 
has made your farm more resilient. How do you think they can be 
scaled up on a larger basis, as we look at, again, next year's 
farm bill? You are muted here, Rosie.
    Ms. Burroughs. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Before I answer your 
big question, I wanted to first compliment all the others that 
have testified, and thank them for those wonderful comments. I 
especially liked Kim because we have been a ranching family for 
over a century as well. In terms of all the different programs 
that are available, and the practices that we are using, they 
are all part of the solution, but the first thing that has to 
happen is education.
    So research and education are the most important things to 
have these practices work throughout the nation, and it isn't a 
cookie cutter, so what works in one particular area may not 
work in another, but these practices can be implemented across 
the nation. I think that the one thing that has to change is 
our paradigm of feeding cows. Our cows, both dairy and beef are 
grazers, and I believe that God had created this symbiotic 
relationship between cows, grass, and the sun. And I thing 
that, depending on what--your certain farm or ranches, every 
one of these practices that we talked about can all be 
implemented, and it is through education.
    The Chairman. Well, we appreciate that. And finally, Dr. 
Stackhouse-Lawson, you talked in your testimony about trying to 
develop ways to more accurately measure issues of emissions, 
and develop strategies that, in fact, can achieve goals of 
reducing those emissions. How do you think we best find that 
effort in quantifying our data in ways that are meaningful as 
we try to improve our impacts, as it relates to emissions, and 
what is your university and other universities doing together? 
And I think we need to be combining resources, frankly, as we 
try to achieve these goals.
    Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. Yes, absolutely. So I think, when we 
really think about measuring greenhouse gases from these 
systems, and actually trying to quantify the gas, it is really 
complicated, right? So we know that, of course, methane is 
produced from ruminant systems. They belch that methane, it is, 
of course, a natural process of the animal's digestive 
capacity. We know that, based on different diets those animals 
have, different amounts of the gas that they will emit, right, 
if we are measuring that for example, on a dry matter intake 
basis or something.
    But the challenge that we have had as scientists is that 
our methods that we used to measure these things--up until very 
recently we had to put animals in chambers, or their heads, 
right, in respiration chambers, with head box--we would use 
very tame animals; but, we would sort of encapsulate their 
heads so that we could understand the emissions, or we would 
put them in whole animal chambers. And, when we do that, it 
changes the animal's behavior, and their desire to eat, right? 
They are just--not--they continue to eat, it is--it--but they 
are not eating as much. And so we believe that a more accurate 
representation of the--what the animal is actually emitting in 
their production environment is very important.
    And the other thing we don't understand is how does that 
change, right? So how is it different on Kim's range, in the 
forages that she has available in Idaho, versus what Rosie has, 
and the forages that her grazing animals are consuming. And 
generally we think that there may even be differences, right? 
And so the levers that Kim and--may be able to pull on Brackett 
ranches to reduce either enteric emissions, or reduce nitrogen 
emissions, may be different than the levers that Rosie can pull 
reasonably, right? And we need to understand those baseline 
emissions, but also how solutions can be applied in a way that 
is place-based, because we have heard that over, and over, and 
over again, right? Well, one-size-fits-all approach it doesn't 
work in animal agriculture systems. And how do we balance--I 
think there is a really good point--how do we balance knowing 
everything that we possibly can, because that is also not 
reasonable, that is an unreasonable expectation, with the 
amount of knowledge that we need to move forward with the most 
appropriate strategies.
    To answer your question about other universities, we have a 
new program that has started. We are developing strategic 
partnerships with other institutions that have complimentary 
facilities to--so actually different facilities to ours. So one 
example would be we are setting up a green feed platform, where 
we will have six green feeds in what we are going to call 
climate-smart pens, but we are partnering with Texas Tech, for 
example, who has the head box chambers. Or we might partner 
with Davis, that has kind of the more full animal chamber 
approach. And I do believe that we also need to be very smart, 
and not duplicating, right, these very precious resources, and 
really work together to develop----
    The Chairman. Doctor, I think your comments are well taken, 
and my time has more than expired, but I wanted to make sure 
that we got an opportunity to get the academic perspective in 
here. And I really do believe, as we look forward, money is 
always a challenge as we try to provide ample resources, but 
that we combine our research efforts in ways that make sense 
through the incredible academic resource that we have in this 
country on a regional basis.
    So, without further ado, my friend, and Ranking Member of 
the Subcommittee, Dusty Johnson, it is your opportunity here 
with your 5 minutes. I look forward to hearing your questions 
and comments.
    Mr. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and just great 
witnesses. I mean, really, really a top-notch panel, and you 
can tell how much they agree on it. These are happy, 
optimistic, solutions-focused people who want to make the world 
a better place, and they have just all done a great job. I will 
start with Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson, and then we will go to Ms. 
Brackett, kind of with a similar set of questions.
    I thought your testimony, Doc, did a good job of talking 
about the progress that we have made, as well as some of the 
ambitious, proactive goals that our country has on a going 
forward basis. And, in that, we want to feed the world, we want 
to do so sustainably. In that kind of a landscape, it seems 
that we should be doing everything we can to have American 
producers feed even more of the world, because we do it better, 
we do it more sustainably. I feel like so often these producers 
have a target on their back, rather than being viewed as the 
solution. Just sort of your reactions about that.
    Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. I think one of the things that I 
didn't mention in the testimony, but is really important, is 
that sustainability certainly has the triple bottom line 
approach, right, of environmental, social, and economic, and we 
need to take that into account as we are thinking about 
nutrition globally. But the other thing that I didn't mention 
that sustainability has is an emotional element, right? So, 
when people think about the way that they define 
sustainability, and what may be most important to them, 
emotions play a role in that, and some of the perceptions that 
exist around our production systems today are challenging, and 
in some ways align with the science that we know, and in others 
don't.
    So I think, Representative Johnson, it is very challenging, 
and I think our farmers and ranchers should be commended for 
the incredible work that they have done, but this sort of 
target on their back, unfortunately, oftentimes makes it 
difficult for all of the great minds that we have that could 
come together to really identify collaborative solutions moving 
forward. And I very much agree with you that those 
collaborative solutions are necessary, and that our farmers and 
ranchers should be a part of those conversations, because, at 
the end of the day, they are the boots on the ground that will 
mitigate the impact.
    Mr. Johnson. And, listen, tell me if I am looking at this 
too simplistically, because I suppose sometimes elected 
officials do that, right? But if we really care about 
sustainability--I think so many people are making it seem as 
though producers need to do less, right? We need less of this 
type of production, or less of that kind of production, when in 
reality, if we care about sustainability, a really effective 
solution would be to ask the American producers to do even more 
to help feed the world.
    Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. Right. And I think we will get 
there. You described some of the technology that South Dakota 
State is implementing on precision ranching technologies. I am 
equally excited about that technology, right? So could we 
actually, with a phone app, move cattle to a place on a ranch 
at the right time the forage is growing, and optimize the 
landscape, and the nutrition, and also minimize that impact, 
right? Because then you can move them off, potentially, 
during--if there is perhaps a migrant bird that needs to nest 
in that particular environment, right? So our ability to move 
virtual fences without actually building fence, it is 
phenomenal. And the opportunity to get even more utilization 
off of landscapes, but actually enhance the landscape, I think 
is very real. And I think technology is only going to enhance 
that for us. I think, at the same time, we have to be very 
cognizant of the fact that measurements to continually 
benchmark ourselves within documentation improvement will 
continue to be important.
    Mr. Johnson. Great. Thanks, Doc. And then I have 50 seconds 
left. Ms. Brackett, it is yours. Any observations?
    Ms. Brackett. Well, I would concur with what Dr. 
Stackhouse-Lawson has said. I think, to add onto that, I would 
go back to your comments about the efficiency of the U.S. beef 
production system: cattle are up-cyclers. I think sometimes 
people don't recognize that most cattle ranches exist on land 
that is considered marginal. It can't grow crops for human 
consumption. So cattle can go in there, and graze that grass 
that is not human edible, and they convert that into a highly 
nutritious form of protein for our fellow Americans. I think 
that is really important. The other thing, when we talk about 
cattle diet, they also consume a lot of our human food waste 
that would otherwise go into a landfill, so they are definitely 
up-cyclers in several segments of our industry.
    Mr. Johnson. Yes, well said. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I 
yield back.
    The Chairman. I thank the gentleman always for his good 
questions, and up-cyclers, I like that term, Ms. Brackett. I 
will have to remember that. It is not one that I have used. But 
our next Member to be recognized is the gentlewoman from 
Virginia, my friend, Ms. Abigail Spanberger.
    Ms. Spanberger. Thank you.
    The Chairman. Representative Spanberger, you are 
recognized.
    Ms. Spanberger. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, 
Chairman Costa. I am so thrilled that we are having this 
hearing on livestock and conservation today. I am the Chair of 
the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, and I know that our 
producers across the country, and particularly in Virginia, are 
the really the original conservationists. I am also very 
excited about today's hearing because of the large presence of 
livestock producers in Virginia, many of whom are actively 
engaged in USDA conservation programs. In December, I was proud 
to host USDA leaders in Orange County, Virginia in my district 
to meet with Virginia livestock producers, and I heard directly 
from cattlemen and small processors about their most pressing 
needs. They discussed the recently announced USDA investment 
that will help keep America's cattlemen and their families 
competitive in a global ag economy, and it was a really 
wonderful, wonderful way to focus on these programs, and the 
value that they have to our producers.
    One way our producers stay competitive is by bringing 
conservation practices into their day-to-day operations. That 
is why I am proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Growing Climate 
Solutions Act (H.R. 2820) with my colleague Congressman Bacon. 
It touches on nearly every sector of agriculture, including 
livestock production, and this legislation would help Virginia 
cattle and poultry producers receive additional revenue sources 
for the climate-smart practices that they are already 
embracing. The bill is supported by nearly every major American 
farm group, many major environmental groups, and several 
Fortune 500 companies, because it makes sense. Notably, the 
bill passed the United States Senate with 92 Senators voting in 
favor it, and it continues to stun me that the House of 
Representatives has failed to act on a bill that garners so 
much support. We don't see that every day, and we should pass 
it in our chamber. It is crucial for the farmers, the rural 
communities, and the health of our planet, particularly the 
farmers and producers in Virginia who were advocating for it. 
It is certainly long past time.
    So thank you for allowing me that moment, but, Mr. 
Medeiros, I have a question about your testimony, because you 
mentioned that current USDA programs have not focused enough on 
manure and feed management, and that is really a key area of 
opportunity, and some sustainability questions related to dairy 
production. I have heard that while USDA has strong internal 
expertise on conservation, that we really need more experts on 
conservation practices and innovation specifically related to 
livestock. Could you perhaps share your experience in what you 
have experienced, and provide us with any sort of feedback on 
what that looks like from your perspective?
    Mr. Medeiros. Sure. And, Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson talked a 
little bit about different feeds, and knowing how that room is 
going to react to the different feeds, and what is it is 
actually emitting. So, in the dairy sector out here in 
California, about 40 percent of our rations are byproducts. And 
through those byproducts, we really don't know how much 
emission reductions we are getting through those byproducts. So 
the question is still out there, and at UC Davis there have 
been a lot of studies done on either oil-based additives, 
plant-based additives, and how that is working in reducing 
emissions. So we need more funding to go into that category, 
and then we need less restrictions from FDA when they take a 
look at those additives, because they are looking at that as an 
antibiotic, and having to go through that process, it is 
cumbersome, it takes a long time, and time is of the essence, 
right? And some of that stuff, we need to streamline that 
process, and we----
    Ms. Spanberger. And some of the additives that you are 
talking about that are being compared or judged as antibiotics 
would--some of them are kind of natural plant-based, isn't that 
correct?
    Mr. Medeiros. Absolutely. Absolutely. They are either oil-
based or plant-based. You know that one of them was seaweed, 
right?
    Ms. Spanberger. Yes.
    Mr. Medeiros. And so, when we take a look at these options, 
we need to streamline that process, and we need to actually put 
more funding towards that, because companies, when they start 
taking a look at the process, they are not willing to invest, 
right? It is taking too long, it is too expensive. So those are 
the avenues, because we have to remember, 45 percent of 
emissions coming from a cow is enteric.
    Ms. Spanberger. Yes.
    Mr. Medeiros. And we have to remember, especially in the 
dairy sector, not everybody is going to be able to put in a 
digester, and if we can target 45 percent of these emissions on 
the enteric basis, that is extremely valuable.
    Ms. Spanberger. Thank you, Mr. Medeiros. You mentioned 
digesters, and I have--the REAP Improvement Act (H.R. 4162, 
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Improvement Act of 
2021) would expand eligibility to the REAP Program to include 
agricultural producer cooperatives that want to meet the high 
demand for the program by increasing the available cost-share, 
particularly as it relates to digesters. I am running out of 
time, but I will be following up with questions for the record 
for Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson related to the REAP Program, and what 
additional access might look like, particularly for livestock 
producers and our dairy industry. So thank you so much, Mr. 
Chairman, for this fantastic hearing, and thank you to all of 
our witnesses for your work, and the knowledge you brought to 
us today.
    The Chairman. Well thank you very much, Representative 
Spanberger, and your focus on--with your own Subcommittee, and 
how we can collaborate together with efforts on conservation, 
and we look toward next year's farm bill is critical for all of 
us, in terms of working with America's livestock industry to 
achieve even better results. So our next witness is Ranking 
Member of the full Committee. I introduced him once before, so 
I don't think I need to introduce him again, my friend, 
Representative Thompson from Pennsylvania. You need to un-mute, 
G.T.
    Mr. Thompson. Jim, thank you so much. Thank you to you, and 
the Ranking Member, for assembling just a tremendous panel on 
this topic, just outstanding. I could listen to these folks all 
day long. These are the types of voices that we need to have at 
the table as we prepare for the 2023 Farm Bill.
    While many private companies have made major climate and 
sustainability commitments, they oftentimes are struggling to 
find ways, really, to achieve their goals, and I think to 
achieve their goals in truly meaningful ways that are effective 
and in line with their goal, despite having significant 
financial resources. And simultaneously, USDA conservation 
programs--and I would put our Agriculture Committee at the 
forefront of that, because we have authorized what it is at 
USDA and in the conservation space specifically--those 
conservation programs are oversubscribed, and agriculture 
producers have difficulty accessing these vital programs.
    So, for these reasons, I introduced the SUSTAINS Act (H.R. 
2606, Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to 
Incentivize Natural Solutions Act of 2021), which would allow 
USDA to accept and match donated private funds to stretch the 
Federal dollar. The idea is that the third parties could really 
be able to demonstrate their climate credentials. They could be 
climate champions by directly partnering with USDA to fund 
conservation projects, more conservation projects, and expand 
those through the existing programs. In terms of land-based 
solutions, the documentation shows that overall our farmers, 
ranchers, foresters sequester 6.1 gigatons of carbon annually. 
It shows that our farmers, ranchers, and foresters are climate 
heroes. But we could do better, because we know that there are 
new innovations, because American agriculture is science, and 
technology, and innovation.
    So I want to start with Mr. Meier, or whoever would like to 
respond. I am just curious, do you see a value in a concept 
where we form a public-private partnership to where 
organizations of all sizes, not just large corporations, but 
small mom and pop businesses would get their climate champion 
credentials, and could help us fund additional conservation 
programs? Do you see any value in that concept? We appreciate 
your insights.
    Ms. Burroughs. This is Rosie Burroughs, and I would like to 
share that I think it is an outstanding idea, and we need all 
hands on deck, all feet working towards solving our problems. 
So any and everything working towards the good of our--and I 
would like to change it not just to sustainability, but to 
viability, and it is about the health of our planet. Thank you.
    Mr. Thompson. Yes. Thank you. Anyone, other thoughts on 
that kind of an approach, a public-private partnership approach 
to expanding our conservation program so we may have programs 
through the USDA?
    Mr. Meier. [inaudible] type of legislation could be 
helpful--potentially--could be helpful, but one thing to keep 
in mind is that the programs are built for producers, so that 
means the underlying USDA conservation programs must be 
accessible to poultry producers, and provide the environmental 
performance to drive results towards goals per dollar invested, 
and we are supportive of those practices and technologies.
    Mr. Thompson. Well, Mr. Meier, I agree with you. I mean, we 
need to look at the program so that all of our producers are 
benefitting, whether we are talking crops, trees, or livestock, 
because they all have something to offer, right? For tremendous 
forces for good for the economy and the environment.
    Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. Yes, if I could add, I love the 
notion of this private-public partnership idea, and I truly 
believe that that is where our solutions are going to come, and 
those tangible outcomes are going to be made available. If I 
could just provide just a few things that I think if you could 
add? The ability to actually measure the outcome that we have 
achieved I think would be really powerful, right? So if we have 
these climate champions, and they could say they have reduced X 
amount of tons, or they have helped sequester X amount of tons, 
I think that that would be really helpful for a lot of these 
more corporate strategies.
    The other thing that I might encourage is--it is certainly 
climate--I love the--sort of name of client--climate champion, 
but it might also be really interesting to also measure the 
improvements in water holding capacity, and soil health more 
broadly, and even biodiversity in the soil, right? Because, as 
we begin to improve soil health and sequester--carbon, we see 
all these other really phenomenal win-win-win-win-wins, right? 
And I think that that is where value lies as well.
    Mr. Thompson. Absolutely. Thank you to the panel, and, Mr. 
Chairman, thank you for convening this, and I yield back.
    The Chairman. You are welcome, and the gentleman is always 
appreciated, his participation, and, Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson, we 
appreciate your enthusiasm. We need more of that. I hope it 
spreads to--I know many of the Members of the Subcommittee 
certainly are expressing their enthusiasm as it relates to 
today's hearing. Our next Representative, my friend from 
Connecticut, who is very focused on these issues, 
Representative Hayes, please. You have 5 minutes.
    Mrs. Hayes. Thank you, Chairman Costa, and thank you for 
having this hearing today. Connecticut's Fifth District is a 
hotbed of sustainable livestock farming. There are countless 
farmers from my district who operate small family dairy farms 
with a focus on sustainable and organic agriculture.
    One example is Adamah Farms, a diverse, direct market farm 
and educational program in Falls Village, Connecticut. Adamah 
is part of Hazon, a national organization which advocates for 
agricultural and environmental sustainability in connection 
with the Jewish faith. And then there is Laurelbrook Farm, a 
fourth generation, 1,100 cow dairy farm which makes 
sustainability center of their practices by composting manure 
and re-selling the product as organic fertilizer to the local 
community. The owner of Laurelbrook is Christian Jacquier. He 
is also the Chairman of the Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative, and is 
extremely active in the Connecticut dairy community.
    In Connecticut, rather than treating sustainability as an 
afterthought, our farmers know that good stewardship over our 
land and environment must be central to all agricultural 
practices. However, Connecticut family farms are struggling. 
Consolidation in the dairy industry has hit us hard, leaving 
Connecticut with fewer than 100 remaining dairy farms, having 
lost nearly 200 in the past decade.
    My questions today are for Ms. Burroughs. Given that you 
run a diversified sustainable farm similar to those in my 
district, can you share details about the effect of 
consolidation on the uptake of sustainable practices throughout 
the livestock sector? Specifically, what are the implications 
that larger operations pose for the adoption of sustainability 
measures?
    Ms. Burroughs. Thank you, Representative Hayes, for the 
question. I think it is the key to our future to have the 
ranchers, and farmers, and grazers that are able to utilize 
their farms and ranches in a way that protects the environment 
and brings health to the planet. There are more microbes in 1 
teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet, 
and these microbes, with this symbiotic relationship between 
animal grazing and the land, they create the water infiltration 
system that replenishes the aquifers when it does rain. And 
when we lose a farmer to his farm or land because of 
consolidation, or because efficiency and bigger, more corporate 
type of farms, we have lost our farms and ranchers forever. 
They will not ever get an opportunity to come back.
    We ourselves have had two grass-based organic dairies, and 
they were the premiere grazing dairies that worked beautifully. 
And we could show you all the research and the good things 
about it, but the economic--and I like what Kim said, the 
economic viability did not work because we do not have an equal 
playing field when the NOP has not enforced the pasture rule 
uniformly across the nation. And Congress has directed the NOP 
to publish the final rule on origin of livestock, but the NOP 
has not done that. So, number one, we need an equal playing 
field so that those of us that are using grazing practices can 
be rewarded by the consumers who support, and businesses that 
support our type of farming that is bringing benefits to the 
planet, and health to all people, from the birds in the air, to 
the microbes in the soil. Thank you.
    Mrs. Hayes. Thank you, Ms. Burroughs. I am smiling, because 
my next question was how would finalizing the NOP help organic 
farmers avoid similar outcomes than the one you experienced 
with your organic farms, and you led right into it, because it 
is all connected. Exactly what you have just talked about is 
what I am hearing from small farmers in Connecticut. Our 
landscape in my district is just outlined and created by the 
farmers, their investments in the communities, what they do for 
neighbors, for our schools, our agroscience programs, and it 
would be devastating for Connecticut's Fifth District for these 
farmers to not be sustainable, and for us to continue to lose 
at the rate that we have been losing. So thank you so much for 
your work in this area, and for your very thoughtful comments. 
Mr. Chairman, that is all I have. I yield back.
    The Chairman. I thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut for 
your comments, and your insight. Our next Member is the 
gentleman from Indiana, Representative Jim Baird, who 
represents the Fourth Congressional District, I believe. Good 
to have you involved, my friend.
    Mr. Baird. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Ranking Member. And 
I really want to add my appreciation to all the witnesses here 
today. The expertise they bring to this Committee is really 
beneficial to our ability to make decisions as we talk about 
the farm bill. And, we have heard several people mention--not 
only the witnesses, but the Committee Members--the significant 
improvement that agriculture has made in almost 50 years, 70 
years, of 287 percent increase, with very little change in the 
kinds of inputs that we put into agriculture. So I am really 
glad that we are giving farmers and ranchers the credit they 
deserve for all the conservation efforts, and the things that 
are important to maintain our environment.
    And, there are many things I would love to talk about, like 
soil health, grazing management, nutrient management, feed 
additives, methane digesters. Maybe I will have a chance to get 
to some of those. But, there is one area that we haven't talked 
about, and I am not sure how much interest some people have, 
but I am very excited about biotech, and the potential that 
these technologies will have in benefitting the environment, 
and not only the environment, but the human and animal health, 
and the world's demand for sustainability produced proteins. 
These technologies could be beneficial to cattle and the dairy 
industry, with researchers and companies developing gene-edited 
traits for heat tolerance. And by using biotech to raise cattle 
to carry a heat tolerance gene called slick, we could have 
cattle that are better able to regulate body temperature during 
periods of heat stress than non-slick cattle, and help them 
maintain productivity.
    So, Mr. Medeiros, I am going to start with you, and then 
Ms. Brackett will follow up, but can you touch on your 
respective industry's view to the benefits of biotech in all 
this discussion?
    Mr. Medeiros. Why absolutely, and, being a representative 
from Indiana, you see a lot of the biotech in seeds and crop 
rotations, and we see it out West also, and the benefits it 
brings to the environment. From an animal aspect, I will share 
a little story with you. I am a diehard Holstein guy that has 
changed his mind, and let me elaborate on that. And we talk 
about heat tolerance and all that. I have switched to Jersey 
breeds on one of my farms, and one of the things I noticed is 
the tolerance that they have to heat is much greater than a 
Holstein, and then their footprint on the environment is much 
less than the Holstein, so we have found, just through our own 
research on our own farm, the benefits of just changing the 
breed on how that has impacted out footprint on the 
environment. So, it is little things like that. And then, we 
will take it as far into crop rotation, on biotech corn, and 
tolerance to droughts. And, we know all about droughts out here 
in California.
    Sustainability goes anywhere from emissions from that cow 
to water, right? And we want to encompass all that in our 
operation, so we take a look at all that in our operation. So 
that is some of the stuff that we address in our operations, is 
breeds, and, of course, our crop rotations.
    Mr. Baird. Well, thank you very much for that insight. Very 
informative information there. Ms. Brackett, would you care to 
address that same concern?
    Ms. Brackett. Certainly, thank you, Representative Baird. I 
would certainly echo Mr. Medeiros's comments on breed 
selection. That is so critical in the cattle industry, that you 
match the breed to the climate that you live in, the region of 
the country that you are in. So I would say that is probably 
the first--that might be an old school technology, but an 
important one for us. In the cattle industry, another important 
biotech would be feed additives. We have talked a lot about 
feed additives to reduce methane emissions. I think that there 
is a lot of interest going on, some exciting research in that 
area.
    When we talk about technology in the cattle industry, we 
also talk broader than just biotech. We have a need for, and 
Representative Johnson mentioned his precision grazing 
technology, so that is also really exciting to us. And I think, 
finally, I would just mention that we need to have--be spending 
this time on updating our emission science, getting that 
baseline, and understanding where we need to go from here.
    Mr. Baird. Well, thank you very much. And I see my time is 
almost up, and I don't think the Chairman will give me any more 
time, and I have all kinds of questions, and I would enjoy 
visiting with all of you for the rest of the day, but thank 
you. I yield back.
    The Chairman. The gentleman is always welcome, and 
certainly have an opportunity, as all Members of the Committee 
do, to submit further questions to our witnesses. And I agree 
with you, as others have stated, we have a great group of 
witnesses today, and not enough time for all of us to ask 
additional questions that we would like to ask. Our next Member 
is the gentlewoman from Iowa's Third District, another friend, 
Representative Cindy Axne. You are recognized for 5 minutes, 
Representative Axne.
    Mrs. Axne. Thank you, Chairman Costa, and thank you to our 
witnesses for being here today. And, Rep Baird, you and I seem 
to always be on the same pathway of questions, so maybe we will 
get some more of your answers on some of mine here. But since I 
came to Congress, I have been a very strong supporter of 
sustainable ag practices for our farmers. We know how important 
it is. I know right here in Iowa that our family farmers are 
the original conservationists, and their kids really, literally 
depend on them doing so. So we know also that consumers are 
becoming more increasingly aware and interested in how their 
food is being grown, where it is coming from, how sustainable 
it is, all of that.
    I was recently out in Council Bluffs, Iowa with Secretary 
Vilsack, and we were at a producer's shop, as a matter of fact. 
The owners told us that they were meeting this demand by 
providing information to their consumers on where their beef 
comes--from farm to table, and it was so cool to talk to their 
kids, who had put together the QR codes where they track every 
animal, and then their customers can see, from birth to table, 
what that animal has been up to. So they are really looking for 
these things, and I think our young farmers and producers are 
ready to be at the table with this.
    While our family farmers have continually been more 
efficient and sustainable over these last few decades, though, 
this market trend will provide more opportunities for farmers 
who are on the cutting edge of sustainability, and further 
incentivize those who want to do more. And as we look towards 
this upcoming farm bill that we are talking about, Congress 
needs to be investing in more resources towards conservation 
programs for research and technical assistance, et cetera, and 
we need our farmers to be able to take advantage of this 
growing market to help our country reduce its emissions.
    So my first question is to you, Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. In 
your testimony you referenced numerous research gaps, limited 
funding, and other challenges in improving sustainability. In 
your view, what is the most pressing research need, and how 
would that research help our producers?
    Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. Yes, thank you for the question. 
Really establishing appropriate baselines for greenhouse gas 
emissions in the way that cattle are raised today, in my 
opinion, is what is most needed right now. So we have modeled 
this for a very long time, of course, using emissions data, but 
the actual absolute emissions that we use to factor, right, 
create those emission factors, are based on data from--and it 
is from past equipment, right? So putting those animals in 
respiration chambers, or whole animal chambers, and I am 
worried we are not getting accurate baseline emissions from the 
types of cattle that we have today.
    What that will also allow us to do is begin to--and I am 
very excited about this, and was inspired by the previous 
question as well, begin to potentially genotype animals that 
actually might have less methane emissions it--even on the same 
diet, right? So I think there is just such a gap in sort of our 
actual knowledge of what these animals are doing in their 
natural environments, what animals are performing better, are 
the--I have big questions are the efficiency metrics we are 
using today, are they the right ones? Is there another 
efficiency metric? Is there a nutrient efficiency metric, 
right, that we have just missed because we haven't had that 
technology, or those resources, at our fingertips.
    As this technology catches up, and we are hopeful that even 
technology or measuring methane emissions from the oil and gas 
industry--could we translate some of that? And we are very 
close, I think we are very close to it catching up, and so just 
really building that database would be my recommendation, as a 
really good starting place.
    Mrs. Axne. Well, as somebody who comes from the world of 
strategy, baseline numbers are the most important piece to 
start with, and if we don't even have that, then we do need to 
put some effort towards that. I appreciate you bringing that 
up, thank you. Ms. Burroughs, you stated that management-
intensive grazing is the key to the future. Could you expand on 
that? What benefits have you seen on your farm? You mentioned 
that we needed a level playing field, so what specific 
challenges do you think are most important to address for 
producers in adopting that practice?
    Ms. Burroughs. Thank you for the question. There are three 
kind of areas that I will hit. In regards to the NOP making 
their final rule on the origin of livestock rule, that is in 
reference to grazing animals in the dairy sector. In terms of 
grazing beef out on the ranged land, there is lots of research, 
and there are many, many holistic programs on management-
intensive grazing. What we found--and when I said earlier in 
our testimony, 40 years ago we didn't know what we didn't 
know--is that God created a perfect universe, and if we work 
with Mother Nature in the cycle of the seasons, and adapting, 
like, what was said earlier, the cattle to the environment of 
what you have, whether you are in a mountain range or a desert 
area, those are all the decisions that need to be made to be 
efficient and viable in grazing your animals.
    We also graze sheep, and sheep are an animal that our 
country has sort of left behind, but sheep are a wonderful 
grazer, and we are using them in our orchards. So what we have 
found is that, when we integrate grazing into our farming 
systems, our orchards, we are finding that that relationship is 
completely--has so many benefits. I would love to write more of 
a written detail answer to that, as time has been limited, but 
I can say that when things are in cycle, and animals' manure 
goes into the soil, and is utilized, you are not going to have 
problems with nitrate concentration from grain-fed animals that 
are in a concentrated form.
    So in my view, right now, our whole food system is broken. 
We have gone to cheap food, we have gone to food that is 
imported. We need to take care of our American farmer/rancher 
first. Buy local, buy organically grazed--grown meat. We know 
that the CLAs, and all the benefits in the health of the meat 
that is on grazing animals is so much more important for health 
and fighting cancer. So I would love to write a more detailed 
answer than that, but I just think working with Mother Nature 
is the relationship of what we all need to be striving to do, 
because when we are in sync, then we are able to reduce all 
those greenhouse gases, all of the stored carbon in the soil, 
and hold water in, and recharge our aquifers. It is very 
exciting. I can say that seeing what was in a dead soil, and 
what is in a live soil, and having life, and we have planted 
rows of hedgerows throughout all of our farms for beneficials, 
for all----
    The Chairman. Rosie?
    Ms. Burroughs. Yes. Okay. I will--in a written testimony. 
Thank you.
    The Chairman. Well, and we both appreciate Representative 
Axne, and Rosie, your enthusiasm. As chairperson of the Soils 
Caucus, we need to bring you back. I have never seen such 
enthusiasm for soils, and we will continue that in that vein. 
Next Member, representative from Iowa, again, the Fourth 
Congressional District. The gentleman is very focused on these 
issues, Representative Randy Feenstra.
    Mr. Feenstra. Thank you, Chairman Costa, Ranking Member 
Johnson, and thanks for everybody's testimony. It is really 
quite amazing to hear everybody, and their thoughts on what we 
can do together collaboratively. In Iowa the livestock industry 
has a great story to tell when it comes to sustainability. 
Across the Iowa industry, farmers are producing more while 
using less, and our hog producers are using 75 percent less 
land, and 25 percent less water, compared to 6 decades ago. 
Dairy farms in the U.S. have the lowest greenhouse gas 
emissions of all our global competitors. Cattle ranchers have 
reduced emissions per pound of beef by more than 40 percent, 
while also producing 60 percent more beef per animal from 1961 
to 2018. Through these technologies the livestock industry has 
achieved these goals, and it is through technology that we 
continue to make improvements into the future.
    One technology that has advanced the industry into greater 
sustainability is feed additives. Mr. Medeiros and Ms. 
Brackett, in your testimonies you shared how animal feed 
ingredients have allowed the dairy and beef sectors to reduce 
methane emissions. I share your concerns that the regulatory 
red tape is preventing timely market availability for these 
ingredients. According to a study by Informa Economics, it 
takes about 3 to 5 years for a feed ingredient to be reviewed 
by the Centers for Veterinary Medicine. Why is it important 
that the Food and Drug Administration streamline this review 
and approval process, and what legislative proposals do you 
encourage Congress to consider related to this issue, Mr. 
Medeiros?
    Mr. Medeiros. Okay. Well, first of all, we need to separate 
the feed additives from the antibiotic category, and so we can 
start fast-forwarding what we know so far, and promote 
research, and to get this on a fast track. That is probably the 
one thing that is really hindering feed additives today. And 
then we need to spend more time and investment into that 
category, because I think there is a lot more research that 
needs to be done in that category where we can understand it. I 
mean, Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson touched upon it a little bit.
    So FDA needs to really--again, needs to take a look at 
that, the protocol on feed additives, so we can pursue that at 
a much more rapid rate, and push that forward. So, that is my 
opinion on that, and I think it is something that Congress 
really needs to take a look at.
    Mr. Feenstra. Yes. Ms. Brackett, do you have any thoughts 
on that?
    Ms. Brackett. Yes. Thank you, Representative, I appreciate 
the question. I think it is important to focus on innovation, 
having support for research and innovation, as opposed to 
regulation. That would be something that we are very much in 
favor of. Investing in research that is going to help producers 
be more solutions-oriented, I would think would be the 
collaborative goal that we are all striving to achieve here, 
especially if we are talking about feed additives, having more 
research in that arena, supporting innovation, so that we can 
be more technologically advanced, and achieve our climate 
goals. Absolutely.
    Mr. Feenstra. Thanks for those comments. Again, a question 
for Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson, I sit on the Science, Space, and 
Technology Committee, and I passed an amendment to include an 
animal omics database in the Bioeconomy Research and 
Development Act (H.R. 4521). This amendment ensures that animal 
omics databases are included in research and development 
initiatives, along with data access that focuses on animal 
biotechnology and genetic modification. How do you see 
biotechnology fitting into the overall strategy for meeting 
food demands in a growing population, to achieve our 
sustainability goals?
    Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. Yes, thank you for the question. And 
I am certainly not an expert in that area, but I think, when we 
think about really achieving sustainability goals, so much of 
the progress to date has been made through enhanced 
efficiencies, and yes, we have to do more, right? There has to 
be more than those enhanced efficiencies, but we also need to 
develop technologies and tools to even streamline the 
efficiencies, right? And so I think any access to data and 
technology to help do more with less, to help our producers 
have more appropriate tools that can work on their individual 
operations, but still drive to these bigger goals that we have 
is where we all need to think about innovating.
    And, the beautiful thing about sustainability, and quite 
frankly climate, is that any improvements we make, right, help, 
right? And they may not help as much as we think--we want them 
to, but they still help. So I think those efforts are 
warranted.
    Mr. Feenstra. I agree, and the reality is our livestock 
industry has voluntarily adopted sustainability practices, 
which I am so excited about. With that, my time has ended. 
Thank you, and I yield back.
    The Chairman. I thank the gentleman, and we thank, again, 
our witnesses. Our next Member is my friend Representative 
Bobby Rush from Illinois's First Congressional District, and we 
appreciate Congressmember Rush's participation. He represents 
the head of one of America's urban areas, but yet understands 
the importance of American agriculture, and the role that it 
plays, and that will be followed by Representative Barry Moore 
from Alabama. But, Bobby, you are next up.
    Mr. Rush. I certainly want to thank you, Mr. Chairman. This 
has been a very, very informative hearing, and I thank you for 
it. I want to take a moment to welcome, if I might, Mr. Meier, 
who is here with us today from my hometown of Chicago.
    And, Mr. Medeiros, I have a question for you. I am 
extremely interested in member cooperatives, and I am looking 
forward to ways to expand ag co-ops to urban areas, and I 
believe that their structure, and their mission, uniquely 
empowers producers in a variety of ways. And I know that this 
is not the topic of today's hearing, but I wanted to take the 
privilege and opportunity, and hope that you could briefly 
discuss some of the best practices that you have witnessed as a 
member of the National Milk Producer's Federation's Executive 
Committee, and if you could particularly inform me about the 
practices that you have seen that could help co-ops expand into 
new sections, such as urban ag? Mr. Medeiros, would you 
respond?
    Mr. Medeiros. Yes. So, little history about myself, I used 
to be an independent producer at one time, and learned the 
value of a co-op. And, co-ops bring such a tremendous value to 
American agriculture. The resources that a co-op can bring to 
producers, as far as--and I will speak upon DFA, DFA being the 
largest dairy co-op in the United States, and I believe the 
fourth largest milk processor in the world. The resources that 
co-ops bring to producers--through a co-op we have our farm 
service program, we have our innovation programs, and co-ops 
bring such a value to agriculture clear across the United 
States, whether you are a corn grower, a beef producer, dairy 
industry, it is a vital component of producers, and having the 
ability to use co-ops to reach out to people, educate people, 
and bring resources back to the farmer. And as an independent 
producer, you don't get those same resources.
    So I think co-ops are probably one of the most valuable 
tools in today's agriculture, and hopefully it keeps growing 
and expanding, and that way we can touch even the cities, and 
be able to touch city farmers, and the city population 
understands the value that a co-op can bring to producers, and 
all of society, through all the assets, and who we touch in the 
industry.
    Mr. Rush. Well, I certainly want to actually engage in this 
conversation more with you, because, again, I am absolutely 
committed to the idea, and the potential, of trying to create a 
unity of will, a unity of spirit, and a unity of understanding, 
in terms of the whole cooperative sector of our society. So 
thank you very much. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
    The Chairman. Thank you very much, sir, Representative 
Rush. And our next Members, in the order that the staff has 
provided me, is Representative Barry Moore from Alabama's 
Second Congressional District, then to be followed by 
Representative Sanford Bishop, from Georgia's Second. Mr. 
Moore, the floor is yours.
    Mr. Moore. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And we have heard a lot 
of talk about grazing and cattle, but, Mr. Meier, I want to 
talk a little bit about the poultry industry. That is the big 
thing in our part of the world, and huge in agriculture in 
Alabama. You focused a lot of your testimony in terms of 
working on measurement. In the National Chicken Council Broiler 
Sustainability Report released last year, I am reading that in 
just 10 years the industry has decreased land use by 13 
percent, carbon emissions by 18 percent, water consumption by 
13 percent, and fossil fuel use by 22 percent. Can you expand 
on this, and what do you attribute these gains to, please?
    Mr. Meier. Thank you, Representative Moore. Yes, the 
poultry industry has made incredible strides over the past 
decade, and has been a shining light in the agriculture 
industry in that space. On the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable 
Poultry and Eggs, we are really focused on getting a baseline 
measurement, and a broader aspect, and every node of the supply 
chain involved in that sustainability conversation. So we have 
involved producers, integrators, allied industry, as well as 
NGOs, and restaurants in building our framework. The framework 
was completed in December, and this year we are going to launch 
the tool that we will use, and it will be an online tool. That 
way, all of these nodes can input their aspects of 
sustainability measurements into that, and we will have a good 
baseline across the full supply chain, from producer, all the 
way to customer, of what our sustainability looks like in the 
U.S. poultry and ag industry.
    So, for an example, one of those metrics might look like--
would be energy use. So even if every producer is monitoring 
their energy use, and they receive--whether it is an electric 
bill, diesel bill, natural gas bill, and so they have a 
baseline that they can then put into the system. They will know 
where they stand, and what they are measuring. When we generate 
all of our data, and we have our final reports that we will 
release once we have the tool launched, we will--that producer 
will then be able to benchmark where they are amongst other 
producers, and the industry itself. Then they can set targets 
for themselves and others to continually improve in that space, 
and know that they are doing their part to provide a 
sustainable future for the poultry and ag industry.
    Mr. Moore. And I am sure looking down the road, we hope to 
continue these trends. What other efforts do you see, and is 
there anything you would like to expand on? And one quick 
question too, Ernie, the digesters to create energy? I didn't 
know if you have seen much of that in industry. We had some 
people testing a few of those in our part of the world, but to 
maintain these family farms, the poultry operations actually 
are the cash flow. They are the things that allow the farmers 
to keep maintaining family farms and stay in business. So, I am 
just curious, what efforts do you think we need to expand on, 
going forward, in the near future?
    Mr. Meier. I think the efforts that we need to expand on in 
the future for the family farmers, for the poultry producers, 
is to make accessibility to USDA funds and resources that are--
the programs that are out there. I think those are the 
opportunities for those family producers and those family farms 
that they need the access to, and the technology, and the funds 
to be able to access those technologies that you referenced 
earlier.
    Mr. Moore. Okay. And, thank you, Mr. Meier, I appreciate 
that. And, Mr. Chairman, with that, I will yield back.
    The Chairman. All right. Thank you, the gentleman from 
Alabama, and we always appreciate when you add time to the 
Committee's portfolio. That is good. The next gentleman is 
another friend, Sanford Bishop, from Georgia's Second 
Congressional District. And, for the witnesses testifying here, 
we all have very valuable Members of this Subcommittee that 
play different roles in the House of Representatives, but my 
friend the Representative has the distinction of being one of 
the cardinals, and so he chairs the Subcommittee on House 
Appropriations that handles the agricultural budget for the 
USDA, so he becomes very valuable. He is one of the important 
Members that not only focuses on the policy issues of the House 
Agriculture Committee, but on the budgetary issues on the House 
Appropriations Committee that handles the subcommittee for the 
USDA's budget. So he is a key person that we should all be 
talking to. Representative Bishop?
    Mr. Bishop. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and let me 
thank you for this hearing today. The witnesses are 
extraordinary, and they have been very enlightening. I have two 
questions, and the first one I would like to direct to Ms. 
Burroughs.
    When I think of sustainability in the livestock sector, I 
think of Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in my district down 
in Georgia. He has been recognized throughout the State of 
Georgia, and the nation, and even globally for his impeccable 
stewardship, and he often says that sustainability isn't 
enough, agriculture has to be regenerative. Ms. Burroughs, you 
characterize your family's farming practices as regenerative. 
Can you tell us how that translates to various practices and 
systems that are deployed on your farm? White Oak Pastures is 
located in Bluffton, Georgia, a very small community. It is the 
largest private employer in Clay County. It has 113 people, and 
the county itself has only about 2,800 people. But Will Harris 
employs 185 people, and he writes $100,000 in paychecks every 
Friday. So as an advocate of regenerative agriculture, what are 
some of the economic benefits that you have received from 
adopting the climate-smart management practices?
    And my second question is for the panel at large, and 
basically it addresses scalable solutions. The potential 
benefits of community-scale meat processing are very broad, and 
these types of operations have a smaller environmental 
footprint. They are more flexible, and they are able to be 
respondent to changing conditions, and keep money in the local 
agricultural community. Tell us how Congress can ensure that 
investments in local and regional meat processing 
infrastructure support the expansion of small, community-scale 
processors that will support environmentally and socially 
responsible practices?
    Ms. Burroughs. Thank you. I so appreciate you mentioning 
Will. He is a friend of ours, and we spoke together at Berkeley 
several years ago. We also shared the Leopold Award, winning 
for our family in 2020. So he is an outstanding person that is 
leading our industry in grazing and viability. All I can say is 
that, when you--our whole food system, and the way we produce 
food is a broken system, in my opinion, and I believe that 
regenerative practices are not only the key to our survival as 
a planet, and all the people on it with health, but it is also 
the way to keep farmers and ranchers on their land so they are 
providing the food that we need for this planet, and protecting 
our environment.
    I am just going to jump over to meat processing, because 
that is the number one necessity that we need, to have local, 
regional processing plants for beef, poultry, or whatever other 
meats that we need. We have very few that are USDA inspected 
plants that we can use or take our animals to. So I will let 
others answer as well, but thank you for bringing up the 
regenerative practices. I listed them in my written testimony, 
and I tried to expand on why regenerative is so important, but 
all life starts in the soil, and all health starts in the soil. 
And, when we are using regenerative practices, we are not only 
creating the best nutrient-dense food in either crops or 
animals, but we are also doing the best we can for storing 
carbon, protecting our environment.
    Mr. Bishop. Thank you.
    Ms. Burroughs. With that, I will----
    Mr. Bishop. Thank you. The scalable solutions is important 
to me, because I would like to know what we can do to help 
encourage the local and the regional processing infrastructure. 
I----
    Ms. Burroughs. That is outstanding.
    Mr. Bishop.--will be economically beneficial. So, quickly, 
for the 40 seconds that are left, if anybody else could comment 
on that, I would appreciate it.
    Ms. Brackett. Representative, I would be happy to address 
your question about meat processing. We definitely have a need 
in the cattle industry to increase packing capacity, so very 
excited about all of the smaller and mid-size processing 
facilities that are coming online. We are concerned that they 
will be sustainable, that we will have them in the future, that 
we will be able to keep them in business. I would say that--I 
would echo what Rosie said. With the lack of inspection, not 
having USDA inspected facilities really limits how we are able 
to sell our beef, especially across state lines.
    Mr. Bishop. Thank you. That means we need to strengthen the 
inspection regime. Thank you very much. I think my time has 
expired, Mr. Chairman, but I thank you for the hearing, and 
thank all of the witnesses. You have been incredible.
    The Chairman. Well, I know the Chairman of the Subcommittee 
of Appropriations that might be able to help us with dealing 
with getting more inspectors, so that is something we ought to 
work on, and anytime you want to talk about enthusiasm on 
soils, talk to Rosie. Our next Member is the gentleman from 
Kansas, Congressional District 1, Representative Tracey Mann. 
And then that will be followed by Representative Chellie 
Pingree from Maine. And, unless the Chair sees any other 
Members of the Subcommittee returning, the Members of the--
those witnesses, who have been so patient and so good today, 
the reason you see Members come and go is because we have 
overlapping other committees that we are dealing with, so it is 
not because they are lacking of attention for your comments or 
your testimony, but we are multitasking here, so oftentimes 
Members are coming in, and going back to other committees as 
well, so you understand how we try to make this system as 
efficient as we possibly can. Representative Mann from Kansas, 
you are on.
    Mr. Mann. Great. Chairman Costa, thanks for recognizing me. 
Thanks for the time, and thank you for having this hearing, and 
all the panelists, and the testimony you submitted, everything 
is really, really appreciated. Also thank you to Ranking Member 
Johnson. I agreed with the comments he made during his question 
period, and appreciate the back and forth in the conversation 
he had with you, Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson. I represent the First 
District of Kansas. We call it the Big First. It is the largest 
beef producing district in the country by dollar amount. We 
have a lot of feedyards, packing plants, and cow/calf 
operations. I grew up on a preconditioning feedyard, which is 
what our family has always done.
    So I have a handful of questions. First, for you, Ms. 
Brackett, I agree with you, in your testimony, and the USDA 
research that you cited explaining that cattle are not truly 
significant contributors to long-term global warming, that 
cattle producers actually help reduce other sorts of emissions 
through various practices. But, the story that we often hear in 
the media paints quite the opposite image. In your opinion, 
where is the disconnect, and how do we change the public 
discourse? How do we kind of reshape the public's image of 
production agriculture and these issues?
    Ms. Brackett. Thank you, Representative. I appreciate that 
question. I think this disconnect has happened slowly over 
several years. As people have left rural areas, and moved to 
more urban and suburban areas, there is a loss of historical 
knowledge about what goes on in farms and ranches, and really 
truly how cattle are actually raised. So that leaves consumers 
in this country not having a strong foundation when they may 
hear misperceptions in the news. We are letting other people 
drive our narrative in this arena, in regards to solving this 
problem, considering the society that we are in, and the 
distrust that we seem to be facing, I think the solution lies 
with having credible third parties talking about what the 
cattle industry does, and what our sustainable story really is. 
I see those third-party experts, if you will, they could be 
chefs, well-known chefs, they could be respected journalists, 
scientists, but we need other people out there talking about 
what we are doing.
    And, to back that up a little farther, the science. I can't 
underscore enough the importance of Congressional support for 
more scientific research in the sustainability arena, that then 
those third-party folks could hopefully go out and share with 
the consumers in this country.
    Mr. Mann. Yes, I agree. Anyone else want to add to that? 
How do we reshape the image of production agriculture around 
these issues?
    Ms. Burroughs. Thank you. This is Rosie.
    Mr. Mann. Yes, Rosie?
    Ms. Burroughs. Kim, that is so right on. We need to 
educate, we need to tell our story, and we need the research 
that documents all the benefits of how animal grazing is 
helping save our planet. And I would say I would go so far as 
to say is--without regenerative ag practices and animal 
grazing, you can look to no future, because if you look at some 
of the research and science that people are talking about, we 
need to take action, and agriculture is the answer to the 
problem.
    Mr. Mann. Yes, I think that is right. I think agriculture 
is the answer, and in my view, the bad news is the distance 
from farm to fork has never been wider. The good news is, with 
this device, I could communicate to the entire world in a 
millisecond, right? So how do we do a better job telling the 
story in a positive light? And I agree with and appreciate the 
thought about needing the science, and the third-party 
validators to cite the science.
    One last question, I know I only have a minute, and that 
would be for you, Mr. Meier. You mentioned that the most 
successful, sustainable tools are created by those implementing 
them and impacted by them. I couldn't agree more. Do you have 
any examples of your experience with successful industry-led 
initiatives, and why do you think they were successful?
    Mr. Meier. So at the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable 
Poultry and Eggs, we have just completed our building of the 
framework, and that was completed this past December, and so we 
are in the process of building an online tool for all of our 
members to be able to use and input that data. Once we do that, 
we will be able to baseline our sustainability across the U.S. 
poultry and ag sectors.
    So we base it on three pillars, poultry, planet, and 
people, trying to be holistic, and encompassing all aspects, 
every node of the supply chain. In that, there are over 100 
metrics that we have listed there, and we have also built our 
framework in such a way that it allows even those who are just 
beginning the sustainability journey to be able to use this 
tool in a manner that will help them be better in 
sustainability in the future, right? So a small producer may 
not have a lot of resources to put against sustainability 
initiatives, or even know how to tackle starting that process. 
We built our tool, or are building our tool, in a manner that 
will allow them to ramp into the sustainability journey. And we 
have also built it in a way that large organizations like 
McDonald's can, with some resources to put against 
sustainability, can use this tool, and have their data 
incorporated into that, so we have an end-to-end view of the 
sustainability view for the U.S. poultry and ag industries.
    Mr. Mann. Great. Thank you. I see my time has expired. 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the time.
    The Chairman. Well, we thank the gentleman, and we thank 
Mr. Meier for your points well taken. I believe the staff has 
indicated to me that the last Member, but certainly very 
patient, and well spoken, is my friend, the Representative from 
Maine, who has been waiting with a great deal of patience for 
her allotted time, Representative Pingree, for 5 minutes.
    Ms. Pingree. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and the 
time I have been able to listen, it is been very beneficial. 
Thank you for holding this hearing. And to all of the 
witnesses, thank you for your patience with all of our 
questions, and really your great testimony. I am particularly 
excited that two of our practicing farmers are females, so 
great to have both of you on the panel as well.
    Let us see, I have so many things to ask, but I will try to 
be quick here. One, I won't go into it, but both of the farmers 
have mentioned--or two of the farmers have mentioned 
slaughterhouse capacity, and that is an issue I have been very 
involved in for a long time, so we are hoping to move that 
forward, and particularly some of the extra funding we have had 
to deal with supply chain issues, so we know how important that 
is.
    And, Ms. Burroughs, I am going to just start with you. 
Thank you for all of your thoughts today. I had the chance to 
hear you speak just a little bit on the Real Organic Symposium 
last Sunday, and really appreciate your talking about 
challenges that organic dairy farmers are having with not being 
paid really the cost of the production that they are dealing 
with today. And for us in New England, as my colleague from 
Connecticut mentioned, with the loss of the Horizon contracts, 
we are in a crisis state right now, so we really feel for the 
challenges that you are dealing with. And, as to the origin of 
livestock, and the other rules, we really--it is shameful how 
long it has taken to get these done. They are at OMB now, so we 
have our fingers crossed that we will finally be able to 
deliver that to farmers.
    But I wanted to talk to you about one particular thing you 
mentioned in your testimony. You obviously have been doing 
amazing things on your farm, you have a lot of data, and I 
understand you do a lot to mentor other farmers who are 
interested in adopting these practices, and that is so 
critically important. So many farmers that we meet say I want 
to do more, but I need to talk directly to a farmer about how 
they are going on doing that. So I am interesting in how we do 
more to provide technical assistance, to get that knowledge in 
the hands of farmers, particularly things like management 
intensive grazing. So, as we are looking forward to the farm 
bill, do you have some recommendations to us about how we could 
scale up our efforts, and what you think is most beneficial?
    Ms. Burroughs. Thank you so much for the work that you are 
doing for our industry, and we so very much need your support. 
I think that the best way that we could get help is for more 
funding, again, for outreach, education, and research. Farmer 
to farmer is the best way to educate and have people be open to 
changing what they are doing, and have this paradigm shift of 
working toward regenerative practices.
    I want to share one quick story, and that is that in our 
research study that we were conducting here at our farm over 
the last 3 years with the Ecdysis Foundation, we compared 
regenerative practices with conventional practices. And when we 
gathered the data, after the first year, one of our 
conventional farmers kind of stood up, and got really angry, 
and said these numbers must be wrong. It is impossible that 
these regenerative farms cannot spray any pesticide on the 
almonds, and yet have the same yield, and volume, and pest 
damage. And after a year of working with the program, the 
second year, he has converted one of his farms to regenerative 
practices, and today, now, all of his farms are going 
regenerative.
    So it is about farmer to farmer education, but we need the 
support of research like at Chico State University, or the 
Ecdysis Society, so that these numbers can show about how we 
can be a sponge, and hold water in our systems, and use less 
water. They are talking about California--of a 20 percent 
reduction of water use, and we are going to so desperately need 
these regenerative practices to keep the farmers viable and 
working----
    Ms. Pingree. Thank you. I have to stop you there because, 
you are wonderful, and I could use up all my time, but I want 
to just very quickly turn to Mr. Medeiros. Thank you so much 
for your presentation today. A 1,600 cow dairy is sort of 
unthinkable in the State of Maine, but we know California is a 
different place. And you talked a little bit about digesters, 
and I know that California has an alternative manure management 
program to financially incentivize manure management. I am 
trying to work with Mr. Costa's office, I know it is something 
he is interested in because, being from California, has so much 
experience there, but I am just interested, I have included 
some of the things in the California model in a bill I am 
working on, and just want to know, how do you see the practices 
working out? Are there things that Congress can learn from what 
is going on in California that also could be part of the farm 
bill? And you will have to be quick, but maybe we will get an 
extra 10 seconds for you.
    Mr. Medeiros. Okay, real quick. So we have the digester 
program and the--program--all sort of manure--I am sorry.
    The Chairman. No, I am the Chairman--because of my friend, 
the Member who asked the question, and because of the witness 
being from my area, will have the time needed to answer the 
question properly.
    Ms. Pingree. There you go. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
    Mr. Medeiros. Thank you, thank you. Well, anyway, two 
different programs, right, and as I spoke earlier, digesters is 
not going to fit every program, so the alternative manure 
management program brings a great alternative to being able to 
handle methane, and how we handle manure. And, through 
research, and through funding through that program--and, 
actually, in California it has been over-subscribed, and there 
are so many producers that want to get involved in the 
alternative manure management practice--so we are hoping to see 
more funding coming in that direction.
    And when we talk about the alternative, it ranges from 
manure separation to drip irrigation using manure water. I 
mean, we have research done on farms out here on how we were 
able to utilize filtration system in moving manure water to 
crops, utilizing those nutrients when the plant needs it the 
most, and lowering our emissions. Just simply how we handle 
manure on the farm, application processes through the manure 
management program. So, so many avenues that we have done out 
here in California there are, and I am sure you know that 
California has led the way when it comes to environmental 
issues, so, I mean, we have the most aggressive program out 
here. We are about ready to reach our targets by reducing 
methane by 40 percent, and it was all these programs--not one 
by itself can do it.
    And I want Congress to really understand that, that we 
talked earlier about consolidation, and the industry. The last 
thing we want to do is speed up consolidation through mandates, 
right? And the more incentives we have on a voluntary basis for 
producers is so valuable to our industry, and the viability of 
our industry. So we need to remember that, and how we keep 
pushing these programs forward, and trying to achieve the goals 
that we need to achieve, how will we fund these programs? 
Because the last thing we want to do is accelerate 
consolidation because of these programs.
    Ms. Pingree. Well, thank you----
    The Chairman. Representative----
    Ms. Pingree. We will definitely want to look more to the 
California experience, so we are anxious to hear more about 
that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the extra time, and I just 
want to say to Mr. Medeiros, I have raised Jersey cows in my 
life, and it is rare to hear a Holstein farmer extolling their 
virtue, so that made my day.
    The Chairman.--Pingree, I will provide you the information 
to contact Mr. Medeiros, and you can----
    Ms. Pingree. Thank you
    The Chairman.--continue that conversation offline. So we 
are prepared to wrap up the Subcommittee hearing at this time 
with a close by our Ranking Member and myself, but let me first 
take the privilege of the chair to give a shameless promo for 
the 55th Annual World Expo Ag Show held in Tulare, California 
next week for 3 days. Opening ceremonies will provide the 
challenges that we face in American agriculture that--which we 
have participants from all over the world that come and 
participate. Sessions on dairy, water, government regulations 
will be held. There are also cooking demonstrations. It is an 
incredible show that has over 100,000 people that participate 
in 3 days. So for those of you who haven't been to the World Ag 
Expo, I--put it on your list if you are interested in 
innovating agricultural technologies, and the challenges we 
face today.
    With that said, a person who is always very innovative, and 
using the best technological opportunities to his advantage, is 
my good friend Representative Dusty Johnson for his closing 
comments.
    Mr. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman for your leadership, 
and for our friendship. I won't take long. I just want to note 
that so many Members of this Subcommittee have talked to the 
panelists about how good they were today, and it is absolutely 
true. That is not typical. I suspect we all could listen to you 
guys go on a lot longer, so thank you for your knowledge, your 
expertise, and your forward-looking love of agriculture. This 
is a great day.
    And too many out there want to cast aspersions on American 
ag producers. They want to tell them to do less. The message we 
have heard today, loud and clear, from both sides of the aisle 
is that if we care about sustainability, economic 
sustainability, environmental sustainability, we need the 
innovation and leadership of the American ag producers now more 
than ever. And so I am looking forward to what tomorrow brings, 
because if it is anything like yesterday, it is going to be 
great. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
    The Chairman. Am I on--am I muted, or can you hear me? 
Okay. I am good now? Let me begin again. Thanks, again, 
Representative Dusty Johnson, Ranking Member of this Committee, 
for your closing comments, and always for your participation. 
For Members, and for those witnesses who have testified today, 
I concur with everyone's reflection that this was a very good 
Subcommittee hearing, one that we can build on as this 
Subcommittee continues to do its work this year on a host of 
important issues affecting livestock and foreign agriculture, 
and as we help set the table for next year's reauthorization of 
the farm bill.
    I think it is important--as I listened to the testimony, 
the questions today, a few things stood out to me. Currently it 
is difficult to measure actions that are leading to substantive 
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. I think that is 
important, and I think it is critical that we come up with more 
measurable ways to assess progress on the farm, because I think 
we are making progress. I think this means that we have to 
emphasize more on research and what works, and, as importantly, 
what doesn't work.
    When we make sure that the research and cutting-edge 
practices are available to ranchers, dairy farmers--and farmers 
and ranchers I think clearly understand, they certainly do in 
California, the effects of climate change. And we have seen it 
in my own generation, just different from how things were today 
than when my father was farming. And so we need to reinforce 
how important it is, because agricultural leaders throughout 
the country are taking a lead in reducing emissions of all 
kinds. That story is not well told, but we need to do a better 
job of it, as was mentioned here in the testimony.
    Finally, I think we need to ensure that our producers are 
not punished for adapting. I mean, change is constant, and 
farmers, ranchers, dairymen and -women who are successful, 
especially generational, are those that are best understanding 
of the changes, and are best at adapting to change. Those who 
don't understand that are the ones so often who are unable to 
stay in business. So it is unreasonable to ask producers to 
make changes that are financially untenable. We have to 
understand that the economics have to work. We must look 
forward to market-based solutions, any ways to incentify 
sustainable practices. All the witnesses here today talked 
about sustainable practices, and how they have tried to make 
them economically viable, and some practices that were not 
economically viable.
    So I look forward to continuing the conversation with all 
who have been involved today, with our farmers, ranchers, 
dairymen and -women, the fellow Members of Congress, who have 
been very attentive today. My colleagues really want to work 
together. As I said, this Committee is one of the most 
bipartisan committees traditionally, today that we have in 
Congress, and we need to have more of this, frankly, in my 
view. The divisions aren't good, and they are not helpful 
toward reaching common solutions that I think are in the best 
interests of our country. So, for my fellow Members of the 
Subcommittee, and for the Administration, we can work together 
to deal with the challenges to combat climate change, and we 
will do so, so I look forward to that continuing effort.
    Let me close by saying, as Chairman, under the Rules of the 
Committee, the record of today's hearing will remain open for 
10 calendar days to receive additional material and 
supplemental written responses from the witnesses, so 
therefore, the witnesses, if you have additional information 
that you want to provide the Subcommittee, you have 10 days to 
provide that. And Members will have 10 days to provide any 
additional information that they would like to submit for 
testimony, or additional questions, questions they might like 
to ask the witnesses. So, with that said, the Subcommittee 
today is adjourned. Thank you very much.
    [Whereupon, at 12:30 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
    [Material submitted for inclusion in the record follows:]
Submitted Letter by Hon. Hon. David Scott, a Representative in Congress 
from Georgia; on Behalf of Lotanna Obodozie, Climate Campaign Director; 
   David Howard, Co-Policy Director, National Young Farmers Coalition

 
 
 
Hon. David Scott,                    Hon. Glenn Thompson,
Chairman,                            Ranking Minority Member,
House Committee on Agriculture,      House Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, D.C.;                    Washington, D.C.;
 
Hon. Jim Costa,                      Hon. Dusty Johnson,
Chairman,                            Ranking Minority Member,
Subcommittee on Livestock and        Subcommittee on Livestock and
 Foreign Agriculture,                 Foreign Agriculture,
House Committee on Agriculture,      House Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, D.C.;                    Washington, D.C.
 

  Re: In Regards to the Sustainability in the Livestock Sector: 
            Environmental Gain and Economic Viability Hearing before 
            the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, 
            Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture

  Date: February 3, 2022

    The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) thanks the 
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture for holding this 
hearing on sustainability in the livestock sector.
    Climate change is an increasing and persistent threat to 
agriculture, disrupting food production across the country and the rest 
of the world. The agricultural sector, however, is uniquely poised to 
be able to directly mitigate the disastrous effects of climate change 
through practices that sequester carbon in the soil and provide other 
ecosystem services to build on-farm climate resilience. Many of these 
practices go hand in hand with sustainable livestock management, and 
together can have a significant impact in combating climate change. In 
examining the sustainability of the livestock sector, we must also 
consider the sustainability of the infrastructure and processes, 
fairness of practices, and health and dignity of people involved in 
getting meat on the table. As the pandemic began and worsened through 
the first half of 2020, we saw clear indications of the fragility of 
our food supply, and smaller scale livestock producers across the 
country faced even greater wait times for processing than they were 
already experiencing.\1\ * We thank the Honorable David Scott, Glenn 
`GT' Thompson, Jim Costa, and Dusty Johnson for holding this hearing to 
discuss the sustainability of the livestock sector.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ OECD, Food Supply Chains and COVID-19, Impacts and Policy 
Lessons, June, 2, 2020, https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-
responses/food-supply-chains-and-covid-19-impacts-and-policy-lessons-
71b57aea/.
    * Editor's note: Footnotes annotated with  are retained in 
Committee file.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The National Young Farmers Coalition works closely with young 
farmers across the country to assist them in building resilience to 
climate change through training, building farmer networks across the 
U.S., and advocating for policy change at the state and Federal level. 
Our campaigns focus on key issues, identified by our members, to 
address the major obstacles young farmers face.
    In a 2017 national survey of our coalition, 66% of respondents 
reported experiencing unpredictable weather and 53% attributed those 
changes to climate change.\2\ Furthermore, in a 2020 survey of policy 
issues, our members across the country identified addressing climate 
change as their number one priority.\3\ Young farmers, particularly 
Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) farmers are on the 
frontlines of experiencing this crisis and at the same time are 
carrying knowledge and expertise--often rooted in indigenous 
practices--necessary to respond to it effectively.\4\ Our farmers have 
experienced increased pest pressure, uncertainty and severe 
fluctuations in water supply, and increased rates of disease, with 
seemingly no end in sight. Young farmers have lost crops and sustained 
damage to their farms due to extreme weather events, have had disrupted 
growing seasons, suffered severe economic losses, and have shut down 
operations due to droughts and unsafe conditions from uncontrolled 
wildfires.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ Sophie Ackoff, Andrew Bahrenburg, and Lindsey Lusher Shute, 
Building a Future with Farmers II, National Young Farmers Coalition, 
November 2017, www.youngfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/NYFC-
Report-2017.pdf.
    \3\ National Young Farmers Coalition, ``2021 Climate Policy 
Recommendations,''  May 2021, https://www.youngfarmers.org/2021/05/
2021-climate-recommendations/.
    \4\ Springer, Regenerative Food Systems and The Conservation of 
Change, November, 9, 2021,

      ``There is likewise extensive evidence that most pre-colonial 
Indigenous environmental practices were, and continue to be, 
regenerative in nature (Fisher, et al., 2019; Ellis, et al., 2021).''

    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-021-10282-2#ref-
CR25.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Further compounding this issue is the lack of access to affordable, 
quality land, as farmland, agriculture, and the climate crisis are 
deeply intertwined. Land is the foundation of nourishment and 
resiliency and is the number one tool available to farmers in the fight 
against climate change. Land that is stewarded plays a critical role in 
climate change mitigation and resilience, yet accelerating trends of 
farmland loss are occurring disproportionately on soils rated highest 
for productivity, versatility, and resiliency.\5\ Additionally, the 
dispossession of land from BIPOC individuals and the ongoing 
consolidation of land into the hands of fewer and fewer owners makes 
this issue all the more difficult for BIPOC farmers. Secure land tenure 
is critical to farmers' ability to remain in the field long-term and to 
making deep-rooted and long lasting climate interventions. Despite 
being heavily affected by climate change, farmers have the 
transformative power to sequester carbon by using climate-smart methods 
including managed grazing, silvopasture, planting cover crops, and 
using no- and reduced-till methods. By incorporating these methods and 
others like them, farmers can simultaneously provide healthy food to 
their local communities--but they can only do so with access to land 
and access to affordable and reliable meat processing services.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ Julia Freedgood, Mitch Hunter, Jennifer Dempsey, and Ann 
Sorensen, Farms Under Threat: The State of the States, American 
Farmland Trust, 2020.
    \6\ Holly Rippon-Butler, Land Policy: Toward a More Equitable 
Farming Future, National Young Farmers Coalition, 2020, https://
www.youngfarmers.org/land/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/
LandPolicyReport.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Young farmers' values are aligned toward sustainable practices, and 
they are innovating at the farm level as they navigate the impacts of 
climate change, a global pandemic, and a livestock processing and 
packing system that isn't designed for them. They are leading the way 
in modeling what a sustainable food and farming future can look like: 
working at the community level to innovate around the many challenges 
they face. In recent conversations with young farmers--discussing the 
Biden Administration's plans to fund the expansion of independent 
processing capacity \7\--they have foregrounded the need for direct and 
ongoing support for small and very small or mobile processors, 
including state and custom exempt facilities. To compete in an 
increasingly consolidated system, independent facilities need long-term 
support to weather swings in supply and demand. Access to processing at 
this scale is critical for young farmers who are not selling into 
global or national markets. As one farmer put it, often they ``. . . 
are the supply chain (producer, processor, distributor).'' Young 
farmers are invested in farming sustainably, in feeding their 
communities, and building equitable food and farming systems. Federal 
policies at the intersection of livestock production and climate change 
must invest in equitable access to high quality farmland and community-
led solutions to processing and distribution challenges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\ The White House, Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Action Plan for a 
Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply 
Chain, January 3, 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/
statements-releases/2022/01/03/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-action-plan-
for-a-fairer-more-competitive-and-more-resilient-meat-and-poultry-
supply-chain/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Young Farmers would like to thank the Honorable David Scott, Glenn 
`GT' Thompson, Jim Costa and Dusty Johnson for convening this hearing 
to discuss sustainability in the livestock sector. A sustainable 
livestock sector is critical for combating climate change, improving 
access to land, and preserving livestock management traditions. We look 
forward to working with you to find ways to make sure that young, 
beginning, and BIPOC farmers and ranchers are leading the future of 
sustainable livestock management.
            Sincerely,
            
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
            

 
 
 
Lotanna Obodozie,                    David Howard,
Climate Campaign Director,           Co-Policy Director.
National Young Farmers Coalition;    National Young Farmers Coalition.
 

                                 ______
                                 
 Submitted Article by Hon. Dusty Johnson, a Representative in Congress 
                           from South Dakota
                           
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

[https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/opinion/climate-sustainability-
agriculture-lobby.html]

2/1/2022

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

          Editor's note: the video is retained in Committee file.
Opinion
Video Series
Meet the People Getting Paid to Kill Our Planet
          American agriculture is ravaging the air, soil and water. But 
        a powerful lobby has cleverly concealed its damage.

By Kirk Semple, Adam Westbrook and Jonah M. Kessel

Video by Kirk Semple,\1\ Adam Westbrook and Jonah M. Kessel \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.nytimes.com/by/kirk-semple.
    \2\ https://www.nytimes.com/by/jonah-m-kessel.

          Mr. Semple is a reporter and producer with Opinion Video, 
        where Mr. Westbrook is a producer and editor, and Mr. Kessel is 
        the deputy director.
          ``We're Cooked'' is an Opinion Video series about our broken 
        food system and the three chances you get to help fix it--and 
        save the planet--every day.

    The global food system is a wonder of technological and logistical 
brilliance. It feeds more people than ever, supplying a greater variety 
of food more cheaply and faster than ever.
    It is also causing irreparable harm to the planet.
    The system--a vast web of industries and processes that stretches 
from seed to pasture to packaging to supermarket to trash dump--
produces at least \1/3\ of all human-caused greenhouse gases.
    Yet somehow these impacts aren't in the forefront of the 
conversation about global warming. Indeed, they often aren't in the 
conversation at all.
    In the Opinion Video above, we explore why. Our focus is American 
agriculture, an industry that, while feeding the United States, is also 
damaging the environment--contaminating the air and water, exhausting 
the soil, destroying wildlife habitats and spurring climate change.
    But despite these harms, the sector has largely been spared 
environmental regulation. This exception reflects, in part, the special 
place that farmers occupy in the American imagination. But the 
industry, particularly the big corporations that are increasingly 
dominating the sector, are also aided by one of the most effective 
lobbies on the planet.
    This is the first in a series of three Opinion Videos that we are 
publishing this month, each providing an angle on the food system and, 
we hope, changing the way you look at food and making you think twice 
about what you put on your plate. The second video will examine how a 
few powerful companies dominate the chicken industry, trapping farmers 
in exploitative relationships and condemning the animals to short, 
wretched lives. The third video will propose a dietary modification 
that may gross you out--but also might help curb climate change.
    For now, pull up a chair at the lobbyists' lunch table. Juicy, 
expensive steak is on the menu. If you're a taxpayer in the United 
States, try your best to enjoy it. After all, considering agriculture's 
enormous public subsidies and the harm the industry is doing to your 
land, air and water, it's you who will ultimately be picking up the 
tab.
                                 ______
                                 
  Submitted Statement by Geoff Horsfield, Government Affairs Manager, 
                      Environmental Working Group
    Unless we reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock 
sector, we will not avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.
    Agriculture is a significant--and growing source--of greenhouse gas 
emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 
agriculture accounts for 10 percent \1\ of greenhouse gas 
emissions,[i] and the production of meat and dairy products 
accounts for most of those emissions.\2\ Livestock generate greenhouse 
gas emissions in three ways: nitrous oxide emissions caused by 
fertilizing animal feed and their waste; \3\ carbon dioxide emissions 
caused by plowing up land to produce animal feed; \4\ and methane 
emissions \5\ from farm animals and their waste Nitrous oxide emissions 
from agriculture--which are 300 times more powerful \6\ than carbon 
dioxide emissions--account for 75 percent \7\ of U.S. nitrous oxide 
emissions. Methane emissions from agriculture--which are 80 times \8\ 
more powerful than carbon dioxide emissions--account for at least 36 
percent \9\ of U.S. methane emissions.[ii]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-
emissions-and-sinks.* 
    * Editor's note: Footnotes annotated with  are retained in 
Committee file.
    \[i]\ This estimate excludes sources of emissions that may be 
counted in other categories, such as fuel and electricity, as well as 
fertilizer production, food waste, land conversion, and other 
additional sources. See https://earthjustice.org/from-the-experts/2022-
january/farming-for-our-future-climate-change-agriculture.
    \2\ https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-11/from-farm-
to-kitchen-the-environmental-impacts-of-u.s.-food-waste_508-
tagged.pdf.
    \3\ https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warming-
potentials.
    \4\ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/
S1462901109000173.
    \5\ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaq0216.
    \6\ https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-
gases#nitrous-oxide.
    \7\ https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-
gases#nitrous-oxide.
    \8\ https://earth.stanford.edu/news/methane-and-climate-
change#gs.oce0fq.
    \9\ https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-
gases#methane.
    \[ii]\ Global estimates (https://gml.noaa.gov/webdata/ccgg/trends/
ch4/ch4_mm_gl.txt)  put anthropogenic emissions from agriculture on 
par with methane emissions from fossil fuels. These emissions may be 
greater than previously estimated by 39 to 90 percent. See Miller, et 
al., Anthropogenic emissions of methane in the United States, 
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dec. 2013, 110 (50) 
20018-20022; https://www.pnas.org/content/110/50/20018 and see Hayek 
and Miller, Underestimates of methane from intensively raised animals 
could undermine goals of sustainable development, Environmental 
Research Letters, June 2021, available at https://iopscience.iop.org/
article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac02ef.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Livestock production also results in a web of public health impacts 
ranging from cancer to air pollution to the contamination of drinking 
water supplies. Farm pollution containing animal wastes, pathogens \10\ 
and excess nutrients can wash off farm fields into drinking water \11\ 
supplies. High levels of nitrate in drinking water have been linked to 
certain cancers,\12\ and the byproducts of chemicals \13\ added to 
drinking water to address animal waste and other organic matter in 
water supplies have also been linked to cancer. Pathogens in water 
contaminated from animal runoff can cause gastrointestinal illness \14\ 
and death.[iii] 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\ https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/ewg-
investigation-manure-overload-threatens-water-minnesotas-farm.
    \11\ https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/trouble-in-farm-country.php.
    \12\ https://progressreport.cancer.gov/prevention/nitrate.
    \13\ https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/reviewed-disinfection-
byproducts.php.
    \14\ https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/surveillance/burden/
findings.html.
    \[iii]\ A recent EWG and Clean Wisconsin analysis (https://
www.ewg.org/research/double-trouble-wisconsins-land-and-water-are-
inundated-pollution-animal-manure-and-excess) found direct medical 
costs for nitrate contamination of Wisconsin's drinking water range 
from $23 million to $80 million per year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Air pollution caused by meat production annually leads to more than 
12,000 \15\ premature deaths--more than coal-fired power plants. Meat 
production increases emissions \16\ of ammonia and particulate matter. 
The nutrients in animal waste and the fertilizer used to grow animal 
feed also fuel the growth of toxic algae \17\ blooms. In western 
states, almost 60 percent \18\ of our freshwater is used to irrigate 
animal feed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \15\ https://www.pnas.org/content/118/20/e2013637118.
    \16\ https://www.pnas.org/content/118/20/e2013637118.
    \17\ https://www.ewg.org/areas-focus/farming-agriculture/toxic-
algae.
    \18\ https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/
irrigation-water-use/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Voluntary conservation practices are an important part of the 
solution to the challenges posed by livestock production, but 
incentives alone will not do enough to address greenhouse gas emissions 
and other environmental impacts. In the best-case scenario,\19\ in 
which all farmers adopt all the best practices, emissions of nitrous 
oxide and methane could be reduced.[iv] But even in this 
highly unlikely scenario, expected increases in demand for animal 
protein will offset expected environmental gains.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \19\ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
S0959652621013573.
    \[iv]\ The Breakthrough Institute (https://thebreakthrough.org/
issues/food/the-clean-cow)  found that existing technology would only 
reduce emissions from cattle by 18 percent.
    \20\ https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aab0ac.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Voluntary efforts to reduce emissions have failed so far to make 
significant progress, since practices are often abandoned when 
conservation contracts expire; \21\ farmers offering to reduce 
emissions are frequently turned away \22\ due to lack of funds; and 
industry-led initiatives often fail to deliver promised 
results.[v]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \21\ https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/95642/eib-
215.pdf.
    \22\ https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2021/08/growing-farm-
conservation-backlog-shows-need-congress-spend-smarter.
    \[v]\ In 2009, dairy companies reached a voluntary agreement 
(https://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2009/12/15/us-counting-on-
cows-to-reduce-emissions)  to reduce methane emissions 25 percent by 
2020. Instead, methane emissions increased. Other emissions reduction 
pledges are either unenforceable (https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/
investor-group-warns-livestock-industry-needs-do-more-methane-2021-12-
01), vague, or have failed (https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-
company-emissions-pledges/).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    If, as expected,\23\ global protein demand doubles, and most of 
that demand is met by animal proteins, incentives alone will not 
suffice to change the trajectory of greenhouse emissions caused by 
livestock production. Animal protein production in the U.S. has 
increased \24\ by eight percent since 1970 and is expected to increase 
\25\ through 2031. Although incentives and current technologies could 
temporarily reduce methane emissions from farm animals, expected 
increases in demand for animal protein will more than offset those 
gains.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \23\ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5532560/#B2-
foods-06-00053.
    \24\ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jayson-Lusk-2/
publication/269429898_Role_of_
technology_in_the_global_economic_importance_and_viability_of_animal_pro
tein_production/links/59d23406aca2721f43698bc2/Role-of-technology-in-
the-global-economic-importance-and-viability-of-animal-protein-
production.pdf.
    \25\ https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/
qn59q396v?locale=en.
    \26\ https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food/the-clean-cow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    True sustainability in the livestock sector requires confronting, 
and recognizing, the hard truth that there cannot be infinite growth. 
The more the livestock sector grows, the worse it will be for the 
climate, water quality, and public health. We must change how we raise 
livestock. But to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis, we 
must also scale up the production of and demand for animal protein 
alternatives like plant-based, fermented, and cultivated proteins. The 
crops used to produce alternative proteins--such as soybeans, wheat, 
peas, mushrooms, lentils, beans, and others--can require less nitrogen 
fertilizer,\27\ less land,\28\ and less water.\29\ And they do not 
produce animal waste \30\ or methane.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \27\ https://journals.ametsoc.org/configurable/content/
journals$002feint$002f14$002f21$002f2010ei321.1.xml.
    \28\ https://ourworldindata.org/land-use-diets.
    \29\ https://www.sustain.ucla.edu/food-systems/the-case-for-plant-
based/.
    \30\ https://www.wri.org/research/shifting-diets-sustainable-food-
future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenhouse gas emissions per 100 grams of protein

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

          Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in kilograms of carbon 
        dioxide equivalents (kgCO2eq) per 100 grams of 
        protein. This means non-CO2 greenhouse gases are 
        included and weighted by their relative warming impact.
          Source: Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Additional 
        calculations by Our World in Data.[vi]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \[vi]\ Poore & Nemechek, Reducing food's environmental impacts 
through producers and consumers, Science, available at https://
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aaq0216.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Note: Data represents the global average greenhouse gas 
        emissions of food products based on a large meta-analysis of 
        food production covering 38,700 commercially viable farms in 
        119 countries.
          https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food.

    Shifting some of the expected demand for animal proteins to 
alternative proteins will also help preserve the use of life-saving 
antibiotics and reduce foodborne illness. The overuse of life-saving 
antibiotics to protect animals in crowded factory farms makes bacteria 
more resistant. More than 35,000 Americans die \31\ annually from 
antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. About 80 percent of 
antibiotics are used for animal production, and about 70 percent of 
these are medically important \32\ for humans. Consuming meat, poultry, 
and dairy accounts for nearly \1/2\ \33\ of the deaths and illnesses 
caused by foodborne pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella. Produce 
irrigated with water contaminated by livestock fecal matter accounts 
for much of the remaining death and illness caused by contaminants in 
food.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \31\ https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html.
    \32\ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4638249/.
    \33\ https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/attribution-
image.html#foodborne-illnesses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Investments in alternatives like plant-based proteins will also 
support farmers and create jobs. Plant-based food production already 
supports over 55,600 jobs \34\ in the U.S.[vii] and could 
support 200,000 more jobs \35\ by 2030. Failure to invest in 
alternative proteins will cause the U.S. to fall behind global 
competitors--as has been the case in the wind \36\ and solar \37\ 
industries. Unlike the government of the U.S., those of Canada,\38\ 
Israel,\39\ Denmark,\40\ Sweden,\41\ Singapore,\42\ the 
Netherlands,\43\ Qatar,\44\ Australia,\45\ the EU \46\ and the UK are 
making significant investments in the development of alternative 
proteins. China has already made significant investments to capture 
large shares of the global soy protein ingredient industry and is 
investing in cultivated agriculture, as well as plant-based companies, 
as part of its 5 year agricultural plan.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \34\ https://www.plantbasedfoods.org/wp-content/uploads/PBFA-Jobs-
Report-2019.pdf.
    \[vii]\ This includes the fact that average salaries for plant-
based foods are more than $12,000 higher than the national average.
    \35\ https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/
uploads.thebreakthrough.org/Alternative-Protein-Report_v6.pdf.
    \36\ https://www.csis.org/east-green-chinas-global-leadership-
renewable-energy.
    \37\ https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/the-solar-industry-
provides-a-cautionary-tale-for-americas-clean-energy-future/.
    \38\ https://www.pembinavalleyonline.com/ag-news/federal-
government-providing-nearly-100-million-in-financing-to-winnipeg-based-
merit-functional-foods.
    \39\ https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-carving-out-key-role-in-
alternative-protein-market-report-says/.
    \40\ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/danish-government-
denmark-plant-based-foods/.
    \41\ https://vegconomist.com/agriculture/sweden-invests-in-
homegrown-foods-to-improve-self-sufficiency-and-deal-with-vegan-demand/
.
    \42\ https://www.eco-business.com/opinion/is-singapore-poised-to-
become-asias-hub-for-alternative-protein/.
    \43\ https://vegconomist.com/companies-and-portraits/netherlands-
emerging-as-new-plant-based-industrial-hub-as-upfield-announces-e50m-
investment-for-the-future-of-plant-based-foods/.
    \44\ https://agfundernews.com/qatar-plans-cell-cultured-meat-hub-
through-200m-investment-in-eat-just.html.
    \45\ https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2021/09/09/Australian-
alt-protein-company-gets-government-funding-for-cow-free-dairy-
proteins.
    \46\ https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/communication-
annex-farm-fork-green-deal_en.pdf.
    \47\ https://vegconomist.com/cultivated/five-year-agricultural-
plan/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Our food and farm policies require significant reform if we hope to 
avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Due to misplaced 
priorities, thousands of farmers are turned away by USDA when they 
offer to share the cost of practices proven to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions. This is the result of five policy failures: Too much farm 
spending flows in the form of farm subsidies to the largest and most 
successful farm businesses; \48\ these subsidies favor crop choices and 
practices that increase nitrous oxide emissions and encourage farmers 
to cultivate environmentally sensitive lands; too little spending flows 
to voluntary farm stewardship programs; misplaced priorities within 
stewardship programs favor practices with few environmental benefits; 
\49\ and there is too much spending in support of animal proteins and 
too little spending in support of plant-based and other protein 
alternatives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \48\ https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2021-farm-subsidies-
ballooned-under-trump/.
    \49\ https://conservation.ewg.org/what-do-conservation-data-tell-
us.php.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    House leaders sought to address these misplaced priorities by 
including $27 billion in the Build Back Better Act for conservation 
practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This investment--the 
largest investment in conservation spending since the Dust Bowl--is 
historic for both size and commitment to practices that reduce 
emissions. But Congress must go further by reforming our subsidy 
programs to encourage crop choices and practices that require less 
nitrogen fertilizer, by expanding and reforming our conservation 
programs to support practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and 
by investing in alternatives to animal proteins.
    Supporting farmers who offer to share the cost of practices that 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting companies seeking to scale 
up alternatives to animal proteins, and supporting consumers shifting 
to a diet like the Mediterranean diet or planetary health diet is 
essential if we hope to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.\50\ 
Any delay will require future actions to be even more ambitious--and 
drastic.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \50\ http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aba7357.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Even if we stopped burning fossil fuels today, greenhouse gas 
emissions from food and farming \51\ could make a climate catastrophe 
unavoidable. Farmers are already bearing the brunt of the extreme 
weather \52\ caused by climate change. But the devastating economic 
impacts of the climate crisis are not the only reason for farmers to 
act: As emissions from energy and transportation continue to fall,\53\ 
and emissions from fertilizer and animals grow due to rising protein 
demand, agriculture's contribution \54\ to the climate crisis will 
steadily increase.[viii] By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions 
from animals and the production of their feed \55\ could easily account 
for \1/3\ of U.S. emissions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \51\ http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aba7357.
    \52\ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-is-
hitting-farmers-hard/.
    \53\ https://cfpub.epa.gov/ghgdata/inventoryexplorer/#agriculture/
entiresector/allgas/category/all.
    \54\ https://cfpub.epa.gov/ghgdata/inventoryexplorer/#agriculture/
entiresector/allgas/category/all.
    \[viii]\ Total methane emissions have decreased 18 percent since 
1990, methane emissions from agriculture have increased by 16 percent.
    \55\ https://www.fao.org/3/i3437e/i3437e.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Submitted on behalf of the Environmental Working Group,

Geoff Horsfield,
Government Affairs Manager.
                                 ______
                                 
Submitted Statement by Julie Anna Potts, President and Chief Executive 
                 Officer North American Meat Institute
    On behalf of the North American Meat Institute (NAMI or the Meat 
Institute) based in Washington, D.C., and its members, thank you for 
the opportunity to submit this testimony.
    The Meat Institute is the United States' oldest and largest trade 
association representing packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, 
veal, turkey, and processed meat products. NAMI members include over 
350 meat packing and processing companies, the majority of which have 
fewer than 100 employees, and account for over 95 percent of the United 
States' output of meat and 70 percent of turkey production.
    In July 2021, NAMI and 11 other organizations representing farmers 
and companies who produce the vast majority of America's meat, poultry, 
and dairy products, as well as animal feed and ingredients, unveiled 
the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow. The 
Protein PACT is the first joint initiative of its kind designed to 
verify progress toward global sustainable development goals across all 
animal protein sectors to ensure consumers can trust that meat aligns 
with their sustainability expectations. In addition, the Meat Institute 
is a member of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB), 
partnering with beef producers and others in the supply chain to 
advance beef sustainability through overarching and sector specific 
metrics and goals, and USRSB is a Protein PACT partner, joining our 
effort to share the progress being made in the beef sector.
    Through Protein PACT, Meat Institute members have developed robust 
metrics for continuous improvement and have publicly committed to 
sustain healthy animals, thriving workers and communities, safe food, 
balanced diets, and the environment.
Measuring Impact
    To measure impact and achieve the ambitious targets set by the Meat 
Institute's members, a task force of NAMI subject matter experts 
developed 100 metrics across the five Protein PACT focus areas to 
measure and improve sustainability in meat packing and processing. 
These metrics have been endorsed by the Meat Institute's Board of 
Directors and will apply to our diverse membership, who employ more 
than 800,000 people and make thousands of different products. The 
metrics have been vetted extensively with sustainability experts and 
partners across the supply chain.
    To encourage full participation by companies of all sizes, the Meat 
Institute has established a broad range of measurable indicators within 
each focus area. These indicators allow companies to demonstrate 
continuous improvement at every stage of their sustainability efforts, 
transparently demonstrating compliance and measuring progress in 
setting, tracking and delivering on ambitious public commitments.
    Our benchmarks are designed to complement and strengthen efforts by 
farmers and livestock producers, and also bridge to actions in grocery 
stores, restaurants and homes--all of which are needed to truly achieve 
our common goals for the people, animals and climate of tomorrow.
Efficiency Drives Sustainability
    A key component of sustainability is achieving higher productivity 
through more efficient use of resources. Stated differently, efficiency 
is sustainability. The meat industry has dramatically increased 
efficiency over the last 60 years.
Productivity in Sustainable Beef Production

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Today, we produce more than twice as much beef with roughly the 
same number of cattle as in 1959, and 18 percent more beef than when 
the U.S. cattle herd hit its largest size in 1975. Farmers and ranchers 
produce beef using 33% less land, 12% less water, and with a 16% 
smaller carbon footprint in 2007 compared to 1977.\1\ That is an 
astounding sustainability success story.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Neumeier and Mitloehner doi:10.2527/af.2013-0022. *
     Editor's note: footnotes annotated with  are retained in 
Committee file.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The U.S. meat industry cannot continue to build on this remarkable 
sustainable productivity growth and meet consumer expectations if the 
government restricts interactions between packers and producers. For 
example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans 
to propose new rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act to regulate 
the interactions between packers and producers. By design, the proposed 
rules will discourage the use of alternative marketing arrangements 
(AMAs)--the very tools that have improved efficiency, productivity, and 
risk management over the past 2 decades and allowed the sector to meet 
consumer expectations for increased beef quality.
    As multiple agricultural economists \2\ and cattle producers \3\ 
have explained, AMAs increase market efficiency by transmitting market 
signals about consumers' preferences to producers. The remarkable 
improvement in beef quality demonstrates this.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ See the following: The U.S. Beef Supply Chain: Issues and 
Challenges, Proceedings of a Workshop on Cattle Markets, Agriculture 
and Food Policy Center, Texas A&M University, 2021, cattle.pdf 
(tamu.edu); Anderson, et al., Univ. of Arkansas, 2022, https://cpb-us-
e1.wpmucdn.com/wordpressua.uark.edu/dist/6/907/files/2022/01/CPDTA-
analysis-01.18.
22.pdf;  Koontz, S., Costs and Benefits of Mandatory Negotiated Cash 
Participation in Fed Cattle Markets, 2022; Glynn Tonsor, Ph.D., 
Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State 
University, testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, June 23, 
2021, https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
Testimony_Tonsor%2006.23.211.pdf.
    \3\ Gardiner, Congressional testimony.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Beef Quality Grade vs. Type of Cattle Sale

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    In his testimony before this Subcommittee, Dr. Ja[y]son Lusk 
stated:

          [S]trengthening of consumer demand for beef over the past 
        several decades has occurred over a period in which there was 
        increased use of formula pricing that rewarded quality 
        improvements. Eroding the ability of consumers, retailers, and 
        packers to incentivize quality through formulas and vertical 
        coordination may have detrimental impacts on demand.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ Jayson Lusk, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Head, 
Department of Economics, Perdue University, testimony before the House 
Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, July 
28, 2021, https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AG/AG29/20210728/113973/HHRG-
117-AG29-Wstate-LuskJ-20210728.pdf.

    Today, consumers demand increased environmental sustainability, and 
AMAs are essential to continued innovation and improved efficiency. In 
a 2021 online survey of more than 1,000 consumers, 72 percent of 
consumers said ``sustainability was a very or somewhat important 
purchase consideration,'' and 68 percent said they were ``willing to 
pay more for sustainable products.'' \5\ As Dr. Stephen Koontz of 
Colorado State University has written, ``. . . thinking about future 
marketing environments, the value of AMA use will be larger.'' \6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/26103-research-focuses-on-
consumers-willingness-to-pay-up-for-sustainable-products.
    \6\ Koontz, Ibid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Meat Institute urges USDA to avoid unintended negative 
consequences from the forthcoming Packers and Stockyards proposals that 
will negatively affect efficiency and sustainability in the cattle and 
meat sectors. Government intervention could jeopardize the gains made 
to date as well as the industry's ability to provide the products 
customers demand in the future.
    The North American Meat Institute is prepared to discuss these 
issues and work with the Committee on the issues facing the industry. 
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this testimony.