The Production of Sustainability

Post by Clemson student Luther Bells

While being in Montana, we have largely discussed actions and mindsets that directly impact the landscape of the grasslands. However, achieving regenerative agriculture through sustainable practices doesn't just stop at a rancher's fence line but continues down the cattle production chain. We had the opportunity to visit a feedlot, expanding our understanding of what sustainability in the 21st century, with a rising population and demand for cattle, looks like.

Before this stop, I associated cattle with grasses. Still, as we approached the feedlot, the cuteness of the cows could no longer hide the fact that the backbone of the cattle operations was to sustain a business, one that seems to have reached industrialization. When I was talking with the site manager, he surprised me by bringing up sustainability and green practices before we did. He mentioned the possible future operations of methane gas farming from their compost pile and receiving green credits, which brings up an important point for me. Sustainability isn't a green-minded paradox. Every day, people are investors and stakeholders in this way of thinking for various reasons. Regardless of whether they are a farmer who wants to maintain grazing quality, a feedlot manager who wants to receive financial support, or a scientist who wants to see the preservation of a species, sustainability is an important aspect for society as a whole.

Feedlots are ultimately the meeting place between sustainability and commercialism. The ranchers' efforts are monetized and carried forward through the chain as these feedlots prepare the cattle for final products. It is amazing to me the sheer size these creatures can reach. When at the various ranches, I was in awe at how much larger these cattle were in comparison to those at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation, Yemassee, SC, but the ranch cattle are nothing compared to those at the lots. With advancements in genetics, such as artificial insemination, breeders have modified cattle to grow larger, with the idea that if we can reduce the number of cattle needed to meet demand, we can have a lower ecological footprint. Conversely, it reduces the cost and improves the finances of all those involved, ensuring a secure beef market.

While being in Montana, I experienced the cattle industry from three perspectives: its ecological implications, ranching and cultural operations, and its business model, all of which are guided by social and scientific cues. To mitigate and curb the drawbacks of climate change and changing climatic conditions, all of us must work together. From scientists to consumers, we all have a role to play in properly stewarding the Earth, our home. Opportunities like these allow us, future scientists and researchers, to get outside our textbooks and experience the holistic implications of the findings we discover and want to push forward.

So how do I move forward post-Montana? Well, first is understanding that sustainability isn't something achieved solely on a research plot or in a classroom. But through respectful and intentional communication and collaboration. Rancher Bill Milton mentioned that whether it's a modern cowboy, rancher, cattleman or whatever he or she wants to be called, to be successful in the beef business, one has to be willing to collaborate. So maybe that is the defining characteristic of the modern cowboy, someone who puts their differences aside to collaborate and achieve their goal, this one being sustainability. So I take up the challenge of integrating the experiences, conversations, and perspectives from this trip. It can only lead to better science and a better understanding of how we can improve the place we call home.