You're working on a Royal Flush of ignorant generalizations.Ranchers are blue collar lawyers. Can’t trust em.
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You're working on a Royal Flush of ignorant generalizations.Ranchers are blue collar lawyers. Can’t trust em.
There’s always exceptions to the rules. And just so you know, a rancher driving by leased land looking to make sure those cows are all standing doesn’t replace the requirement for “cowboy” for the public land grazers. And why would those ranchers have land to lease? This story doesn’t add up....
Good grief. Ranchers are blue collar lawyers. Can’t trust em.
Noted. I apologize, it’s a slow day checking the cows. But this new trucks heated seats are nice. But what do I know???You can twist words with the best of them. CNN has a full time job calling your name. If you ever want to have an actual conversation shoot me a PM and you can call me.
WWP has trucks with heated seats for the hired help? Cool!Noted. I apologize, it’s a slow day checking the cows. But this new trucks heated seats are nice. But what do I know???
This has been 100% my experience as well. We have both cows and sheep grazing within our permit area, which is a mix of both BLM and private. The sheep always have a herder with them. For the cows, I literally have to call the rancher and let him know when his cows are about to die.Here's what I know...and this is only from working on BLM, FS, and State ground for ohhh, the last 30 years, maybe 150 days a year...I rarely and I mean rarely see a "cowboy" checking their cows on any public land lease.
I have, but its a rare bird. See them moving them ON the leases in spring, and OFF at the end of the season, that's about it. Rest of the summer, those cows are on their own.
Sheep on the other hand, totally different story...always a sheep herder on horseback, a few dogs, etc. with them all the time.
I agree that the NEPA process could be more efficient, but if that is just code for weakening land health standards and rubber stamping renewals and authorizations, then there will likely be a cumulative loss of wildlife habitat suitability over time.
I agree with you on this, but it's interesting how this ties back to Buzz's comment. This exception was created (actually long before 2015 as an appropriations rider), as a band-aid for the backlog of renewals that weren't getting through the NEPA process, so that BLM wouldn't have to kick thousands of ranchers off their leases because they hadn't processed the renewals. It could be argued that this was due to the more arduous process created in the 95 regulations they seek to update. There was good reason for the new requirements, to ensure the maintenance and improvement of land health and to keep livestock grazing from degrading it. But the reality of implementing it wasn't well thought out, so the good intentions were lost as a steady backlog of renewals piled up as ranchers and enviros both challenged and BLM struggled to implement it's own rules. The exception has now become a major loophole allowing the kicking of the can instead of addressing problems. Finding the balance of a thoughtful process and fully processing all leases on time is an incredible challenge.
Would you mind sharing some details of your experience with this, it's an interesting topic that isn't what most people first think of when the topic of BLM grazing conflicts come up. This has a whole new element of disease transmission that I wonder if the grazing regulations even address?That's essentially what is happening now by using the FLPMA 402(c)2 exception on allotments where there are resource concerns they don't want to deal with. My experience is with domestic sheep allotments with bighorn sheep conflicts. The BLM is not fully processing permits because they know the science is clear enough that they will be litigated if their NEPA decision authorizes high risk grazing. In areas where they are completing NEPA they have gone from EAs to EISs and have disclosed the impacts of the decisions (and will likely be litigated anyway).
It seems the opposite is true here. Grazing leases are virtually impossible to find.. Most ranchers would prefer to run their herds on private all day so they don't have to deal with the headache of employees and some of the whack ass government employees.
I have no problem what so ever with the cows being on the land, as long as it is not grazed to the point that it affects the other wildlife.
I am not in favor of ANY land use that is not based on sound management and science. Social engineering bullshit does not belong in the management of public lands. Ranchers can say what they want, but the bottom line is that the land is public and not theirs, just because they have the lease. Unfortunately, in many areas, the ranchers have a very big voice in the political battle of grazing on public land.How do you feel about political pressure using our game agencies to remove the animals that compete with cows?
Idaho has just come to a head on this issue.
We went from using biologist to give target numbers of elk in units to using "social science" (actual wording change used in the department and printed in the regulations) in the process they pushed out the fish and game director some commissioners and numerous lower level employees. The results were some units went from having 100 or so cow tags open for around 1 month year. To 2500 cow tags open for 4 months a year.
If you attend the meetings it was ranchers who say that they own all of the grass that grows on an allotment and the elk are eating too much of it.
Maybe Montana guys can fill you in on shoulder seasons i bet there was some grazing intrest involved?
Good thing I put some more "non-beef" in the freezer this morning.All of you who are antigrazing realize that you benefit with lower beef prices are the supermarket.
As part of my anti grazing stance I do not buy beef. I get my beef like I get my deer and elk, on FS or blm land.All of you who are antigrazing realize that you benefit with lower beef prices are the supermarket.