the most important impact of meat production is through the use of water and land. 2500 gallons of water and needed to produce one pound of beef, only twenty gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat, by producing crops instead of animals, we can make more efficient use of the land and water. One acre of farmland that is used for raising livestock can produce 250 pounds of beef. One acre of farmland used for crops can produce40,000 pound of potatoes, 30,000 pound of carrots, or 50,000pounds of tomatoes.