USDA Grass-Fed Beef Label in the Works
by Union of Concerned Scientists 
on 10.29.07
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new rules for labeling meat from grass-fed livestock. The rules stipulate that meat labeled "grass fed" must come from animals fed solely on grasses, hay and other non-grain vegetation.
This label will help consumers choose meat from 'smart pasture operations' that are better for the environment. Unlike massive confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), these farms use sophisticated land management practices to maximize productivity without despoiling our air, water and soil.
Raising livestock on pastures avoids the crowding and illnesses that plague livestock in CAFOs. Modern grass-fed methods are also more cost-effective and environmentally friendly because they take advantage of low-cost grasses that typically require little added water, and few or no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. A growing number of farmers across the country are now turning to this modern approach to livestock production.
Additionally, grass-fed beef is better for public health. Grass-fed cattle contains higher levels of beneficial fats that may prevent heart disease and strengthen the immune system than meat from cattle raised in CAFOs. The study also found that grass-fed meat is often leaner than CAFO meat.
The rule becomes effective on November 15.
See also: ::USDA Waters Down Organic Standards, ::Tainted Meat? USDA Will Tell You. Some Day., ::Organic Watchdog Group Takes on Aurora Organic Dairy, USDA, ::USDA Organic: Drama In The Produce Section, ::USDA To Allow Organic Label on Cosmetics
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More importantly, grass fed beef and dairy products are healthy and full of omega 3's. Cows were made to eat grass, NOT soybeans or corn!
Was this from a USDA PR piece? The glowing language sounds like the prose from a promotional piece. As Anonymous says, cows like grass and much in the piece is truly good news. The fact is that 1,000 cattle fed grass and 1,000 cattle fed grains mixed with grass-stocks emit about the same levels of greenhouse gasses ... so the bit about air pollution is a bit of an overstatement. Mind you, I'm delighted they're pushing grass-fed. It's about time.
So happy to see this. I will definitely pay the price.
The less costly depends greatly on where the farm is located and the associated property values.
Modern approach?
Here is another interesting example of organic and traditional farming being called "modern." Modern farming includes the use of manufactured feed, chemical fertilizers and herbacides/pesticides, and so forth. Traditional farming is sticking a seed in the ground, watering it and occasionally throwing some poop around. Organic farming is traditional farming, albeit on a large scale at times. Same with animal hearding. "Where the buffalo roam" is traditional cattle ranching, eating out of a trough of antibiotics and GMO grains is modern ranching.
marty - The manufacturing and transportaion of cattle feed is the air polluter, not the cow (in this case).
I have to laugh..modern ranching, indeed! I grew up on a . ranch in the southwest that had been practicing this type of ranching since 1913 actually we are still doing this kind of ranching on the same ranch and I am 60 yrs old.
In the '70s, '80s, and '90s ranchers were maligned for using so much land for so little return, for over grazing and causing desertification, for using precious water resources needed to maintain humans in cities and large farms in the desert and agribusiness mono-cropping on the great plains and taking range land from buffalo, deer, antelope and elk!
While some of our johnny-come-lately neighbors did do all those things plus feeding vast amounts of corn and other grains to cattle kept in unsanitary and inhumane feed- lots where it was necessary to pump the animals full of anti- biotics to keep them alive, and then to offset these cost s they fed them growth hormones so they would be heavier when they went to sale where they brought 1930's equivalent prices. Although those of us doing what was then called old-fashioned ranching did not call these types of beef producers " ranchers" but rather factory farmers.
Interestingly enough, the numbers of antelope and deer have increased on our ranch, along with elk that have moved in during the last 5-6 years from mountains to the south. We can not only accommodate this wildlife but we have increased our own carrying capacity of cattle numbers. No water problems and no desertification. This was done by an old style form of ranching called management Grass management to be exact, cuz it's not really beef that a good rancher produces but GRASS, without which any free range operation can not function.