Going+Vegan?+Eating+Sustainable+Beef+Can+Be+Good+For+The+Environment

Going Vegan? Eating Sustainable Beef Can Be Good For The Environment

Going Vegan? Eating Sustainable Beef Can Be Good For The Environment Forbes April 14, 2018 Accessed April 14, 2018

 Regeneratively grazed prairie with cattle being rotated using temporary fence lines

https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilyeoh/2018/04/14/going-vegan-eating-sustainable-beef-can-be-good-for-the-environment/#2f1523d967ea

When managed correctly and properly on the correct grasslands, beef production can be regenerative rather than degenerative - it can reduce, not negate the environmental impacts of it. Grasslands have co-evolved alongside animals that have grazed on them - these animals provide grasslands with valuable ecosystem benefits like nutrient cycling and improved soil structure, which can lead to decreased soil erosion and improved water infiltration, helping farmers increase production and profit by creating more fertile grasslands. An increasing number of studies show that regeneratively grazed cattle can create a net emissions sink, by drawing more carbon into soil than the methane cows produce; however, regenerative grazing is management intensive. Lastly, regenerative agriculture and soil building provides clean water and air to surrounding communities, and prevents droughts and floods, of which all of these factors are critical to safety of these surrounding communities.
 * Summary:**

This topic relates to what we are learning about in AP Environmental Science as it discusses one of the different forms of agriculture used by farmers that may all in all be a better alternative for the environment as a whole - that of regenerative agriculture. In class, we learned about increasing the world food production and how increasing crop yields may help solve the issue of the standard of life in third world nations and developing nations across the globe (Miller 294-295). It may be this use of regenerative agriculture that may help foster this.
 * Relation to Class:**

My opinion with respect to regenerative agriculture and sustainable sources of food such as sustainable beef is that they are, in fact, good for the overall environment and beneficial to farmers, especially small farmers, that really need to produce food, as regeneratively grazed cattle creates a net emissions sink, provides clean water and air, and prevents droughts and floods, creating the ultimate environment for a farmer aiming to increase crop yields and profits.
 * Opinion:**

A law which is related to this issue is the //Agricultural Act of 2014, P.L. 113-179//, which provides a legal framework to authorize nutrition and agriculture programs in the United States for the years of 2014-2018, including forms of agriculture that are considered "sustainable" and beneficial to small farmers. These programs include the Conservation Reserve Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program, the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Service Program, and many more.
 * Law:**