Tyson Fresh Meats becomes first beef processor to license Progressive Beef program

Tyson Fresh Meats, Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, announced the company has become the first beef processor to license the Progressive Beef program, a cattle management and sustainability program for feedlot operators.

The Progressive Beef program helps heighten accountability and transparency through a verification system that involves USDA-approved auditors. The feedyards certified in the program focus efforts in three areas: cattle care, food safety and environmental sustainability, and are verified twice per year. Each audit is a report card, and the metrics involved play a key role in the path of continuous improvement.

Currently, more than a million head of cattle are cared for annually through the program at certified feedyards, primarily located in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

“Now more than ever, consumers are demanding to know more about the beef they buy,” Steve Stouffer, president of Tyson Fresh Meats, said. “We want to not only help our customers answer questions from consumers, but also help the beef industry address these questions. We see an opportunity to lead efforts to more quickly gain adoption of these proven best production practices throughout the entire beef industry.”

The license will also allow Tyson Fresh Meats to work with their customers to fulfill a need to offer a beef program that creates a higher confidence level for consumers while differentiating themselves from other beef programs.

“We are pleased to have Tyson Fresh Meats join us in our effort to grow the number of certified feedyards and therefore increase the pool of cattle available under this program,” John Butler, CEO of Progressive Beef, LLC, said.

Progressive Beef LLC is located in Great Bend, Kansas, and works with feed yards to verify their commitment and care for cattle.