Accelerating regenerative grazing to tackle farm, environmental, and societal challenges in the upper Midwest

Spratt, E. D.; Jordan, J.L.; Winsten, Jonathan R.; Huff, Pete; Schaik, C. van; Jewett, Jane Grimsbo; Filbert, Meghan; Luhman, Jared; Meier, E. P.; Paine, Laura

doi:10.2489/jswc.2021.1209a

Cited by 32 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Producing 5.4 billion kg of grass‐finished beef on land currently growing maize but converted to perennial grassland (Scenario B) translates to ∼74.9 Mt CO 2eq yr –1 , similar to emissions from ∼18.7 coal‐fired power plants each year when using an estimate of zero net change in soil C (Sanford, 2014). This indicates a greater overall C footprint for grazed grasslands than Scenario A but includes improved water quality, reduced flooding, and enhanced biodiversity (Franzluebbers et al., 2012; Spratt et al., 2021). However, as discussed below, when using more optimistic, but conservative estimates of soil C change (e.g., Becker et al, 2022), the grass‐finishing system has a C footprint of ∼15.2 coal‐fired power plants, which is similar but a bit less than the current grain‐fed feedlot system (Table 2).…”

Section: What About the C Footprint Of Increasing Cattle Numbers?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazed perennial grasslands can match current beef production while contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation

Jackson

2022

Agricultural & Env Letters

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The U.S. grain-finished beef system is highly productive but has many negative consequences for human health and well-being because it pollutes surface and groundwaters, exacerbates flooding, reduces biodiversity, and contributes to climate change. Moving the entire U.S. grain-fed beef production system to a grass-finished system is possible without displacing food production and under conservative soil carbon (C) change estimates would result in a reduced but similar C footprint, while improving soil health, water quality, and biodiversity. More optimistic estimates for soil C accumulation indicate the system would result in significant atmospheric C drawdown. Agroecological transformation like this is limited only by our imagination and policies that incentivize agriculture for the public good rather than profits for a few.

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Section: What About the C Footprint Of Increasing Cattle Numbers?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazed perennial grasslands can match current beef production while contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation

Jackson

2022

Agricultural & Env Letters

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“…Incorporating low C:N inputs may enhance POM and microbial C cycling but not lead to increases in microbial necromass and MAOM-C, possibly because of higher SOM mineralization. In addition to reducing erosion and nutrient loss, increasing infiltration and water storage, and enhancing biodiversity ( 47 , 48 ), well-managed grazed perennial grasslands have the potential to build persistent soil C in Mollisols making them a critical part of climate-smart agriculture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent soil carbon enhanced in Mollisols by well-managed grasslands but not annual grain or dairy forage cropping systems

Rui

Jackson

Cotrufo

et al. 2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Intensive crop production on grassland-derived Mollisols has liberated massive amounts of carbon (C) to the atmosphere. Whether minimizing soil disturbance, diversifying crop rotations, or re-establishing perennial grasslands and integrating livestock can slow or reverse this trend remains highly uncertain. We investigated how these management practices affected soil organic carbon (SOC) accrual and distribution between particulate (POM) and mineral-associated (MAOM) organic matter in a 29-y-old field experiment in the North Central United States and assessed how soil microbial traits were related to these changes. Compared to conventional continuous maize monocropping with annual tillage, systems with reduced tillage, diversified crop rotations with cover crops and legumes, or manure addition did not increase total SOC storage or MAOM-C, whereas perennial pastures managed with rotational grazing accumulated more SOC and MAOM-C (18 to 29% higher) than all annual cropping systems after 29 y of management. These results align with a meta-analysis of data from published studies comparing the efficacy of soil health management practices in annual cropping systems on Mollisols worldwide. Incorporating legumes and manure into annual cropping systems enhanced POM-C, microbial biomass, and microbial C-use efficiency but did not significantly increase microbial necromass accumulation, MAOM-C, or total SOC storage. Diverse, rotationally grazed pasture management has the potential to increase persistent soil C on Mollisols, highlighting the key role of well-managed grasslands in climate-smart agriculture.

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“…Increasing demand for GFB and the use of regenerative agriculture practices go hand in hand (Spratt et al, 2021;Van Vliet et al, 2021b). Regenerative agriculture can be defined as a practice that links soil health and livestock management to farm profitability, human, animal, and ecosystem health, as well as food system sustainability (Spratt et al, 2021).…”

Section: How Variations In Cattle Diet Influence Meat Nutritional Qua...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Attention to the Details: How Variations in U.S. Grass-Fed Cattle-Feed Supplementation and Finishing Date Influence Human Health

Krusinski

Sergin

Jambunathan

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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As the global population increases, so does meat consumption. This trend is accompanied by concerns regarding the meat industry, and consumers are demanding transparency on the environmental and health effects of the products they are purchasing. Many leading health organizations recommend reducing red meat consumption. Nevertheless, no differentiation is made among red meats and beef. The beef production system is generally ignored despite nutritional differences between grain- and grass-fed beef. Compared to grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef contains a healthier fatty acid profile, including more omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, and increased concentrations of phytochemicals desired by health-conscious customers. However, there is a lack of consistency among grass-fed beef in the United States regarding clear product labeling and cattle dietary components. Grass-fed beef labeling confusion has emerged, including misunderstandings between grass-fed and grass-finished beef. Along with this, previous studies observed significant nutritional variation among grass-finished beef from different producers across the country. Cattle diet has the strongest influence on the nutritional composition of beef. Therefore, understanding differences in feeding practices is key to understanding differing nutritional quality of grass-fed beef. Feeding cattle diverse pastures composed of multiple plant species including grasses and legumes managed in a rotational grazing fashion results in higher omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytochemical levels in beef compared to feedlots and monocultures. Seasonal differences including changes in temperature, rainfall, grazing practices, and plant growth cycles affect the nutritional composition of feeds and ultimately meat. Additional feeds utilized in grass-fed beef production systems such as conserved forages may reduce or increase health-promoting nutrients in grass-fed beef, while supplements such as grape byproducts and flaxseed may improve its nutritional profile. Further research should measure the effects of individual feedstuff and the finishing period on the nutritional profile on grass-fed beef. A better understanding of these details will be a step toward the standardization of pasture-raised ruminant products, strengthening the relationship between grass-fed beef consumption and human health.

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Accelerating regenerative grazing to tackle farm, environmental, and societal challenges in the upper Midwest

Cited by 32 publications

References 39 publications

Grazed perennial grasslands can match current beef production while contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation

Grazed perennial grasslands can match current beef production while contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation

Persistent soil carbon enhanced in Mollisols by well-managed grasslands but not annual grain or dairy forage cropping systems

Attention to the Details: How Variations in U.S. Grass-Fed Cattle-Feed Supplementation and Finishing Date Influence Human Health

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