U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

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U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

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The U.S. beef value chain.

Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) is a multi-stakeholder initiative developed to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement in sustainability of the U.S.

10/30/2026

From the wetlands of Florida to the dry rangelands of New Mexico, America’s grazinglands are as diverse as the landscapes and ecosystems they support.

In honor of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), our series “Voices of America’s Grazinglands” highlights the people, practices and partnerships that help keep these landscapes healthy and resilient.

Explore the story of Sand Ranch in Episode 2, “Land & Livelihoods,” and see how stewardship helps sustain healthy rangelands for generations to come.

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel or at the link in our bio.

10/20/2026

Legacy, family and stewardship.

For Linda Bentz, a fifth-generation Oregon rancher, carrying on a family legacy means caring for the land, leading through challenges and preparing the next generation to carry that work forward.

At V Box Land and Livestock, Linda has helped build a multi-generational ranching operation focused on both production and conservation. From restoring riverbanks and improving wildlife habitat to transitioning leadership to her five children, her story reflects a commitment to the land and the family values that sustain it.

“You take a setback and you make a comeback,” Linda says, a perspective shaped by years of navigating challenges and building a resilient operation.

As we recognize the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), USRSB is proud to spotlight women like Linda who are carrying their legacies forward through leadership, stewardship and a commitment to future generations.

Read Linda’s full story here: https://bit.ly/4eoDpJr

Follow along as we continue celebrating the women helping shape the future of sustainable beef throughout the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

10/07/2026

We’re pleased to welcome Ricardo Simmonds, PhD, as the new executive director of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB).

With more than 10 years of experience in sustainability, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and program leadership across corporate, nonprofit, government and research settings, Ricardo brings valuable expertise to USRSB as we continue working toward continuous improvement across the U.S. beef value chain.

Welcome, Ricardo!

09/23/2026

There is value in the knowledge and experience built through generations of working and living on the land.

August’s International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (IYRP) theme, “Indigenous and Local Knowledge, Culture and Innovation,” highlighted the importance of recognizing and respecting Indigenous and local knowledge of rangeland management, preserving it across generations, and celebrating cultural heritage.

As grazing land managers work to build more resilient operations and navigate new challenges, there is an opportunity for us all to learn from one another while recognizing the history and knowledge each brings to the landscape.

The National Grazing Lands (NatGLC), a USRSB member, contributed August’s IYRP article, featuring a conversation with Delane Atcitty, executive director of the Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, on Indigenous knowledge, grazing, stewardship, and the importance of bringing more voices to the table.

Read the full story here: https://www.drovers.com/news/education/bridging-ancient-wisdom-and-modern-grazing-conversation-delane-atcitty

09/17/2026

🌵EPISODE 2 IS LIVE | Land & Livelihoods

From the wetlands of Florida to the wide-open rangelands of Caprock, New Mexico, America’s grazinglands can look dramatically different. However, the people who care for them share a common responsibility: stewarding the land for the generations that come next.

In Episode 2 of “Voices of America’s Grazinglands,” we visit Sand Ranch in New Mexico to explore what stewardship looks like in a landscape shaped by drought, limited water and other variable impacts.

Bret Riley shares how grazing management, conservation practices, and partnerships help support both cattle production and wildlife habitat, including habitat for the Lesser Prairie Chicken. We also hear from USDA-NRCS about the importance of working alongside producers to develop practical approaches that strengthen the land and the livelihoods that depend on it.

As Bret puts it: “We’re losing between 2–2.5 million acres a year of grasslands between encroachment and cultivation and urban development. We just can’t continue that if we want to leave something to our kids and grandkids.”

Land & Livelihoods is a story about resilience, collaboration and continuous improvement — and a reminder that stewardship is not about getting everything right the first time, but learning, adapting and continuing to move forward.

As part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, “Voices of America’s Grazinglands” is highlighting the people and landscapes that sustain grazinglands across the United States.

Watch the full episode of “Land & Livelihoods” here: https://bit.ly/3UYEkcT

🎥: Sweet Briar Creative

09/10/2026

Where science meets stewardship.

For Emily Fulstone, a seventh-generation Nevada rancher, honoring her family’s legacy means looking toward the future.

With a background in environmental science and biology, Emily returned to her family’s Nevada ranch with a new perspective on the land she grew up knowing. Today, she is helping explore regenerative practices focused on soil health, water retention and long-term resilience — proving that innovation and tradition can work hand in hand.

“I wish more people understood how much we care. Our livelihoods depend on the health of the land, and we work to protect it every single day,” Emily says.

As we recognize the International Year of the Woman Farmer, USRSB is proud to spotlight women like Emily who are bringing new ideas to agriculture while remaining deeply rooted in the land and legacy that came before them.

Read Emily’s full story here: https://bit.ly/4xgg7w4

📸: Baxter Communications

08/18/2026

Checking in from Winnipeg! Yesterday, USRSB attended the Made in Manitoba Tour, organized by Manitoba Beef Producers and ahead of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef’s (CRSB) Annual General Meeting.

The tour through Manitoba’s Interlake region included stops at:
• Sawmill Creek Livestock
• Oak Hammock Marsh, Ducks Unlimited Canada
• Gimli
• Loch Wood Farm

From working cattle operations to wetlands and rural communities, the day offered a firsthand look at the diverse landscapes and production systems that shape Canadian beef. At the producer-hosted tour stops, we learned about ranching in the forest and wetlands, managing drought, succession planning, and building resilient operations. At Oak Hammock Marsh, Ducks Unlimited Canada graciously hosted us and during the lunch program we heard from multiple speakers about wetland conservation and the important connections between agriculture, wildlife habitat, and healthy landscapes.

USRSB was also invited to provide an update during the CRSB Annual General Meeting. We shared updates on our International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) efforts, the Sustainable Beef Research Roadmap, and the work underway through USRSB’s Grazingland Conversion Task Force.

There is strong alignment between the work of USRSB and CRSB, particularly around IYRP and the importance of maintaining healthy, productive grazing lands. These shared priorities create valuable opportunities to learn from one another and advance work that benefits cattle producers, landscapes, and the broader beef industry.

Thank you to CRSB for having us join the conversation and congratulations on another great meeting!

08/14/2026

As the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) continues, our next spotlight features Leah Scholz. Whether answering the call as an Idaho volunteer firefighter or managing genetics for her family’s fifth-generation Kansas farm, Leah is defined by her dedication to her community and her roots.

Her career has taken her through different parts of the beef industry, giving her the opportunity to learn from different production systems and bring that experience back to her family’s operation. For her, continuing a legacy also means being willing to learn, try new things and find ways to do better.

“Our mom always said, ‘Home will always be here. Go learn, go grow, and please don’t forget to call.’”

That advice has stayed with Leah as she works with her family’s herd, serves her community and carries the Scholz legacy forward.

Read Leah’s full story here: https://bit.ly/4i71mYn

Follow along as we continue celebrating the women helping shape the future of sustainable beef throughout the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

07/27/2026

As the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) continues, we’re proud to spotlight Amanda Butterfield of Pennsylvania, who is a first-generation producer whose journey into agriculture proves there is no single path into the beef industry.

After discovering agriculture while studying animal bioscience in college, Amanda and her husband built Maple Valley Cattle Company from the ground up. Today, their operation reflects a commitment to conservation, continuous learning and care for the land.

Amanda’s story is one of resilience. Balancing family with a full-time career and life on the farm has taught her that agriculture is built on adapting, learning and showing up each day, even when the outcome is uncertain.

As Amanda shares, “Resilience isn’t about being tough. It’s about doing the best you can with what you have and trying again tomorrow.”

Read Amanda’s full story here: https://www.drovers.com/news/resilience-field-amanda-butterfields-journey-science-stewardship

Be sure to follow along as we continue celebrating women in agriculture all year long!

07/21/2026

Postcards from North Dakota 🌾

We visited Black Leg Ranch while filming the next episode of our docuseries, “Voices of America’s Grazinglands: Prairies and People,” in celebration of the .

While visiting the Doan family, we witnessed how generations of stewardship, operational diversification, and a deep commitment to the prairie landscape — and America’s grasslands as a whole — demonstrate that working lands can support thriving ecosystems, strong rural communities and sustainable beef production.

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Lake Placid, FL

Website

http://www.usrsb.org/

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