WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Debbie Lyons-Blythe of Blythe Family Farms, White City, Kan., testified about climate change at the invitation of Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.). The hearing was titled, “Climate Change and the Agriculture Sector.”

“Mrs. Lyons-Blythe’s testimony is a valuable contribution to agriculture’s conversation around climate change,” Roberts said. “From employing genetic testing to determine superior traits that enhance meat quality, feed efficiency, and growth while lessening environmental impact – to implementing grazing management strategies to improve grassland biodiversity, decrease weeds and invasive species, optimize wildlife populations, and reduce erosion – Debbie’s family farm is continuing to identify challenges and proactively address them head on.”

In her testimony before the committee Lyons-Blythe said, “The beef cattle industry has a great story to tell in the climate conversation and the facts support that. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, direct emissions from beef cattle only represent 2 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the country. A recent study published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that emissions from cattle ‘were not a significant contributor to long-term global warming’.”

Click here for audio and video of Lyons-Blythe’s testimony.

Click here to watch Chairman Roberts' opening statement.