It is the role of agricultural producers to feed and clothe the world. With a global population expected to exceed 10 billion people by 2050, this is no small task.

Yet, today’s American producers do an incredible job of implementing technological advancements and following best management practices to get the most out of every acre, while responsibly utilizing natural resources in a way that is sustainable for generations to come.

The result is that we enjoy an abundance of safe, affordable and nutritious food in this country. However, in the land of plenty, there’s also plenty to complain about, and modern agriculture has become the easy target and frequent punching bag for politicians on the campaign trail and mainstream media outlets looking for clickbait headlines to drive traffic to their websites.

It’s beyond frustrating, especially knowing that science backs today’s production agricultural practices. In some ways, our efficiencies in agriculture have become a tool to be used against us. A recent Cargill study showed that consumers care far more about sustainability than they do efficiency in agriculture.

Of course, the two go hand-in-hand. If we are not efficient in the use of our natural resources, then how are we to feed the masses? Efficiency IS sustainability, but perhaps we need to approach this conversation with our consumers a little differently.

One way I like to frame these discussions is by highlighting animal agriculture. As a rancher, I am proud of the fact that our industry can produce more beef today using fewer resources when compared to our production levels of the 1970s. That is a sustainability success story. We get more using less. That is a victory. Period.

Another way to frame the conversation, however, is to highlight how much the beef cattle industry remains the same when compared to how we raised cattle 100 years ago.

In his heyday, Grandpa did a lot of things right. He raised a variety of crops, ran a variety of livestock, and used every acre by practicing diversity and promoting new growth on his land. In a nutshell, Grandpa practiced sustainable, “regenerative” agriculture, which utilizes both crops and livestock to benefit the soil.

Turns out, a focus on regenerative agriculture is becoming more popular with farmers and ranchers. Considering society’s concerns about climate change and an increased scrutiny of land management practices, I think this is the perfect way to showcase how cattlemen and -women get it right on the range.

An article that appeared on New Zealand’s Stuff Business Page titled “Regenerative Farming: Can Meat Save the Planet?” explains perfectly what I mean by regenerative agriculture.

Bonnie Flaws writes: “Grazing animals are vital to addressing the climate crisis. Blink. Yep, you read that right. Cows, sheep, bison, even pigs, goats and chickens are part of the solution, not the enemy. A growing body of research shows that livestock, managed properly, help build organic matter and store carbon in the soil.”

The article breaks down the principles of regenerative agriculture and shows how livestock can be a great tool to build soil. Here are four principles that many producers already follow on the range:

•Don’t disturb the soil. This means no-till when possible and avoid using anything that kills soil or plant life.

•Never leave the soil bare. Maintain living roots year-round with a crop rotation, mulch, or crop residues that keep the soil covered, thus sequestering carbon, promoting soil microbes, and reducing erosion on the land.

•Utilize grazing animals. According to the article, “Grazing animals regenerate the land by trampling the building blocks of soil into the ground, fertilizing it with manure and helping plants put carbon back in the soil by speeding up photosynthesis, experts say.”

•Diversify with cover crops. Finally, maximize biodiversity of the soil with a good mix of crops. Cover crops include varieties of clover, rye grass, buckwheat, amaranth, flowering plants, legumes, sunflowers, turnips, radishes, and more.

I loved this quote from the article: “Everything comes back to soil health. Everything. If we're talking about climate change mitigation, if we're talking about water quality, food quality, or human health.”

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Amanda Radke may write to her in care of this publication.