Sustainability seems to be the word of the decade lately, especially in the agriculture industry.

JB Ranch in Immokalee, Florida, comprises roughly 10,000 acres in south Florida’s humid, subtropical climate. Russell and Liesa Priddy manage roughly 600 Brangus and Beefmaster cattle on the ranch, with calves being sold to operations in the Western part of the U.S. once a year.

John Ferry of JY Ferry & Son Inc. in Corinne, Utah, has a different idea than most when it comes to protecting the environment and the role cattle can play in the process.

The Coombe Family of Thunder View Farms is passionate about preserving the land while creating a sustainable and profitable beef business.

Tyrell visits with Mark Thallman from the USDA's Meat Animal Research Center about the merits and drawbacks of implementing terminal crossbreeding systems. Then, the Noble Research Institute's Josh Gaskamp joins Carrie to chat about how educational opportunities for producers to better their land for long-term profitability. Finally, join the gang as they discuss the joys of county fair season, weigh in on what tattoo Paul should get (and where), and debate the viewing value of various Olympic sports.

Even though sustainability has been a frequent topic of discussion among animal and natural resource stewards and consumers alike, there remains confusion within the industry regarding what sustainability actually involves.

Gervais Family Farms and Peter Rainville’s Four Girls Dairy are two of seven dairy farms in the U.S. participating in the multiyear pilot program aimed to reduce on-farm emissions by 50% from a 2015 climate baseline.

In this episode of the Progressive Cattle Podcast, Editor Tyrell Marchant interviews Frank Mitloehner, from UC Davis, as they talk about sustainability and the industry’s relationship with the public when it comes to these issues. Additionally, Editor Carrie Veselka discusses all things mental health and resources available for farmers and ranchers with Jessica Cabrera of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

“Each generation has had their unique spin on how to manage the ranch, with different approaches,” Alex Hart says. “We are becoming 21st century agriculturalists, promoting the good work ranchers and land managers do, taking care of the landscape sustainably.”

With a theme of “Driving Innovation,” the conference featured more than 50 speakers presenting interactive sessions that included simultaneous translation into Spanish.