Count Fuel Per Mile Not Food Miles
Welcome to Open Range I’m Susan Allen. Agribusiness, for some has a negative connotation but considering that ninety –eight percent of all farms and ranches are family owned the word is nearly synonymous for “family business” In theory if you oppose large scale farming operations you ‘d better be boycotting Ralph Lauren and other successful “family owned” companies as well. Like Ralph Lauren’s philanthropic abilities, large ranches have contributed more to habitat preservation than small farms maintaining and preserving vast stretches of natural prairies and grasslands. Back after the break. Agri –business defined by many as big producers is constantly demonized by those who believe small farms are better. Since carbon credits have lost steam, the locovore movement that counts food miles is a new measure for the anti big ag crowd . But a new study for the USDA from eight economists and universities found that food miles must to take into consideration, not only the miles to transport food to table but the fuel used per pound to produce it. The fuel used from the time the time the calf is weaned, sold, and transported to slaughterhouse. The large scale rancher can economically ship via cattle truck at an average 1.92 gallons per 100 lbs of meat much more sustainalbity than the little guy. To be fair it’s hard for a small producer to meet USDA retail requirements when meat processing is less available and often many miles away. Don’t demonize successful ranchers and when it comes to food purchases don’t count food miles count fuel used per pound.