Introduction
This introductory module is the first in each series of modules. Once you have completed the introduction, continue with the modules for your sector below.
START HERE SKIP INTRO MODULECow-calf, Stocker and Backgrounder Modules
Below are a series of modules for grazing operations, aimed at supporting actions that can improve the sustainability of your operation and the beef value chain.
Grazing
Producers and ranchers are stewards of the land, tasked with taking care of not only livestock, but the forage species, soil, water, air and wildlife.
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Profitability & Efficiencies
Efficient and productive cow-calf operations are central to the sustainability and profitability of the entire beef value chain.
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Herd Health
Ranchers and producers have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure proper health and well-being of their animals.
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Transition Planning
One challenge for many cow-calf producers across the U.S. is how to successfully transfer their business to another entity (whether they are family or not) and maintain its farming or ranching heritage.
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Worker Safety
The safety and well-being of farm and ranch employees is of utmost importance in production agriculture.
BEGIN MODULEGrazing Management Plan Development
As cattle producers, you know your land, herd and natural resources better than anyone else. Use this module below to see how you can continue to excel in your operations.
Grazing Management Plan Development
Grazing Management Plans serve to strengthen and increase farm and ranch resilience and are customizable for your operation.
BEGIN MODULEAuction Market Modules
Below are a series of modules for operators and employees of auction markets.
Animal Health
Auction markets have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure proper health and well-being of animals.
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Employee Safety
The safety and well-being of auction market employees is of utmost importance.
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Water Management
Auction markets are stewards of the land, tasked with taking care of livestock and water resources used to support them.
BEGIN MODULEFeedyard Modules
Below are a series of modules for feedyard owners, managers and employees. These modules may also be helpful for confined cow-calf, stocker or backgrounder operations as well.
Animal Health
Feedyards have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure proper health and well-being of their animals.
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Efficiencies & Profitability
Efficient and productive feedyards are vital to the sustainability and profitability of the entire beef value chain.
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Employee Safety
The safety and well-being of feedyard employees is of utmost importance.
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Environmental Strategies
Feedyards are stewards of the land, tasked with taking care of livestock, as well as the soil, water and air that supports them.
BEGIN MODULEPackers & Processors Modules
Below are a series of modules for beef packers and processors.
Protecting & Improving Animal Health
Ensuring that cattle have the highest standards of health and well-being is beneficial to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the entire beef industry.
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Waste Reduction
Investing the time to review and compare performance outcomes can enhance decision making and the sustainability of packers and processors.
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Employee Safety & Well-Being
Employee safety and well-being is a critical component to a sustainable packer or processor operation.
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Environmental Strategies
Packers and processors must steward water, land and air resources for the future success of the sector and beef supply chain.
BEGIN MODULERetail & Food Service Modules
Below are a series of modules for beef retailers and food service operators.
Animal Health
Although the retail and food service sector does not directly interact with live animals, through the beef value chain it engages with those who do. The sector has a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure proper health and well-being of the animals from their suppliers.
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Food Waste Reduction
Not only does decreasing waste improve profitability it demonstrates the industry truly values the natural resources involved in producing beef and the nutritional value of beef to the human population.
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Employee Safety
Worker safety should be a top priority for any employer, including retail and food service operations. Preventing accidents and injuries and providing the proper training and equipment can have positive impacts on your business.
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Environmental Strategies
Retail and food service operators are responsible for maintaining their environmental goals pertaining to water, land and air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
BEGIN MODULEGrazing Management Plan Development
As cattle producers, you know your land, herd and natural resources better than anyone else. Use this module below to see how you can continue to excel in your operations.
This module satisfies the requirements of the Rancher Resilience Grant.
Grazing Management Plan Development
Grazing Management Plans serve to strengthen and increase farm and ranch resilience and are customizable for your operation.
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Introduction
The USRSB set High-Priority Indicator Goals and Sector Targets around six key indicators of sustainability. These goals and sector-level targets are a starting point of accelerating improvements; they are not the end point, rather they are a catalyst for the industry to innovate and demonstrate our collective ambition to improve outcomes. This module series explores areas of success and opportunity for improvement for each sector of the beef supply chain around each indicator.
START HERE SKIP INTRO MODULEHigh-Priority Indicators
Air & Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Shifts in global climate have the potential to threaten food production, impair livelihoods and food security and impact biodiversity. The beef industry is well positioned to make positive contributions to solving this urgent global problem through reduction of key GHGs, including methane and storage/sequestration of carbon in soils.
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Land Resources
Temperate grasslands, like those in the U.S., are one of the most at-risk major terrestrial ecosystems on Earth. Well-managed grazing lands and the people that steward them are a critical part of the solution to many of the social and ecological challenges today.
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Water Resources
Water is a critical resource, necessary for both people and nature to survive and thrive. Water scarcity and deteriorating water quality in many parts of the U.S. can affect the ability of the beef industry to meet the needs of consumers and support the communities in which it operates.
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Employee Safety & Well-Being
For members of the U.S. beef industry to be truly sustainable organizations, they must showcase their values, including their commitment to employee safety, training and well-being. The employee safety & well-being indicator specifically covers safety programs and training and other hallmark protections of safe workplaces.
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Animal Health & Well-Being
Animal health and well-being is fundamentally important to the beef industry. It is a moral imperative for the industry to continue to care for animals in ways that are science-based, align with shared values of consumers and account for expectations of consumers and other stakeholders.
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Efficiency & Yield
At a high level, efficiency and yield encompasses sustainable economic viability and responsibly stewarding resources. Profitability is essential to the long-term future of the entire value chain. Improving resource use efficiency and minimizing waste (resources, time and capital) through the beef value chain is a major driver of beef's continuous improvement in sustainability.
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