Cattle Feeding and Sustainability
Sustainability is always top of mind to cattle feeders. It's engrained in practices that are the best for the animals, the land, and ultimately the business bottom line. We support environmental, animal health, and labor policies that allow cattle feeders to raise beef in the most responsible, efficient, and sustainable manner, without imposing additional burdens that do not tangibly benefit the land, animals and people involved in the process. Discover how sustainability comes to life and what that really looks like on one feed yard in eastern Washington, and see more here.
Air Quality
In 2017, WCFA members' seven best practices for mitigating dust were passed by the legislature and signed into law, resulting in regulatory certainty for feeders and functional cooperation with the DOE that continues today.
Water Quality
By law, cattle feed yards are designed to avoid water discharge into sensitive areas or water ways. We are collaborating with the WA DOE to codify BMPs that result in universally adopted practices and uniform regulatory enforcement to enhance water protection efforts by feeders.
Beef Quality
Animal care and beef quality are at the very core of what cattle feeding operations are designed to do daily. WCFA members are all Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified and we sponsor animal care and transportation trainings annually for employee certification in English & Spanish.
Employment Practices
WCFA members take pride in making the important, challenging work of a feed yard rewarding for employees. We follow Washington labor laws and provide additional benefits as employers. We support labor policies that benefit employees while keeping Washington agriculture viable and competitive.
