LMD October 2021

Riding Herd Saying things that need to be said.

October 15, 2021 • www.aaalivestock.com

Volume 63 • No. 10

Save Us From Our Rescuers

BY LEE PITTS

I

read two items recently that caused me great distress.

The first was this: In 2015, 51.5 percent of the consumer dollar spent on beef was returned to the producer, while by 2020 that had dropped to 37 percent. Chew on that for a while.

The second item I found in an article written by Janet Levy on The American Thinker website called The Great Reset of Beef Consumption. In it she quoted political commentator and rancher Glenn Beck who is himself a deep thinker. Fellow rancher Beck said in a video he produced that, “You are not going to eat beef in the future — I one hundred percent guarantee it.” According to Levy, Beck went on to say that “in the not too distant future, public land will not be used for cattle grazing, resulting in government-imposed meat shortages. Beck worries that our food supply will be crippled by the globalists, and Americans will no longer have control over what they eat, how it is processed, and what it costs.”

While the number of ranchers continues to shrink the number of people who you are paying to protect your interests continues to grow... and they’re getting rich in the process. Pardon the reference to the “other white meat” but the only bacon they are saving is their own.

Don’t We Have A Right To Know?

NEWSPAPER PRIORITY HANDLING

Recently at the Digest we received some incriminating information about how the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has been spending your money.

Believe me, getting such info is extremely hard to do. Usually,

The basics to roping and dancin’ are the same: a sense of rhythm, good timing and an eye for distance you have to file a Freedom of Information request and even then, it’s usually heavily redacted. Years ago, when we were the first to expose the fact that the NCBA Chief Executive Officer was making over $550,000 a year and got at least one loan to finance his home some readers questioned our reporting while others got very MAD. The only way we got that information was on the QT from a Beef Board member who was fed up with the NCBA getting the lion’s share of the Beef Board’s money. We shouldn’t have to work so hard to get these tidbits of information. The NCBA should freely put this information in the public domain every year. That they don’t shows that either, they’re embarrassed about making so much money while ranchers are struggling, or they know it might endanger the goose that keeps laying the golden egg: the beef checkoff.

Normally we’d say that how

the NCBA spends its money is none of our business IF it was financed by dues but it’s not.

At least 80 percent of its money comes from the checkoff which every rancher pays. The fact is, the former NCA was on the verge of bankruptcy and could barely pay the light bill when they went after checkoff dollars via a merger with the Beef Board. Now they are a staff driven behemoth whose interests align more with the packers, who don’t pay into the checkoff. More about that later but first let’s see what Carl Johnson, a multi-generational rancher in New Mexico, was able to dig up.

How Generous Of You According to Carl, the NCBA has enjoyed tax exempt status since 2001 because they fall into the same category as “leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, etc., created for the improvement of

business conditions.” They’ve certainly improved business conditions for the Big Four meatpackers but for the American rancher? Not so much.

Since the theft of your checkoff money by the NCBA we’ve lost over half the cattlemen in this country. And cattle prices have only been at we’d call a satisfactory level once in that period, during the two years we had mandatory country of origin labeling for beef, which the NCBA opposed then and still does now.

According to Carl, the IRS Form 990 is a form that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly. (If the NCBA has filed an amended return, it may not be reflected in the data that follows.) In the year 2019 which is the last year Carl could get his hands on the info, NCBA had a total revenue of $65,738,987 and total functional expenses of $66,496,232. So even with all the checkoff money the NCBA still lost money with a net loss of $757,245. During 2019 the NCBA paid out $2,083,342 in employee compensation which amounts to 3.1 percent of their budget. That doesn’t sound too bad until you also read that under a column titled “Othcontinued on page 2

Where is Your Dog Extremist Groups Coming From?

Up the Ante in Hopes of Supply he rules for bringing your dog Chain Disruptions into the United States depend on SOURCE: CDC

T

where you are coming from.

Different types of rabies exist in many mammals, but CDC focuses on importing dog rabies into the United States from certain high-risk countries. CDC experts collect and analyze rabies information around the world to determine a country’s risk for rabies.

Dog rabies was eliminated in the United States in 2007 and is under control in some other countries. However, many other countries do not have it controlled, and dogs coming from these countries can import this disease into the United States.

There is a temporary suspension for dogs imported from countries that CDC considers high risk for dog rabies.

On an extremely limited basis, CDC has the authority to issue advance written approval (CDC Dog Import Permit) to bring a dog from a high-risk country.

If you wish to import a dog from a high-risk country, you must apply for a CDC Dog Import Permit at least 30 business days (6 weeks) before you intend to enter the United States.

No CDC Dog Import Permits are issued upon arrival. Dogs that arrive from high-risk countries without advance written approval continued on page 4

ANIMAL AG WATCH

BY HANNAH THOMPSON-WEEMAN / MEATINGPLACE.COM (The views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly those of the author.)

A

s I shared about in my last blog, animal rights extremists from around the world gathered in Oakland, Calif., last week for Direct Action Everywhere’s Animal Liberation Conference. The agenda included sessions and workshops on topics including “interconnections between labor rights, racial justice, women’s rights, disability rights, climate justice and animal liberation,” “what you need to know about open rescue and investigations,” civil disobedience tactics and pressure campaigning.

As always, the conference also involved extremists taking “action,” such as an “Animal Liberation March” in San Francisco, a mass protest at a poultry processing facility and a protest at a home owned by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The protests at the poultry processing facility and Newsom’s home should be particularly concerning to the animal agriculture community, as they involved the use continued on page 4

by LEE PITTS

Cowboy Church

T

he last auction market in our county shut down a few years ago and it was like having our collective heart ripped out. Just this year the auction market that handled the most cattle of any sale barn in California for decades closed its doors too. When we bought a livestock newspaper that served the livestock auction industry 35 years ago there were some 1,500 auction markets in America. Today it’s half that.

The auction market was the heart and soul of the cattle business in my area. I hope I’m not being sacrilegious when I say it was like a church. Once a week we’d gather to see our friends who sat in the exact same seats they always sat in. If one of those seats was unoccupied we’d all ask, Is Jim okay? is Dick sick, or, where’s G.B.?

I’ve been in some sale barns that go so far as to paint the buyer’s name on the back of the seat and no one else ever had the nerve to sit there.

Now without an auction barn we have no place to visit, to catch up on the gossip or to see for ourselves how much our cattle are worth and why some are worth more than others. We’d eat at the coffee shop and solve all the world’s ills. Our county cattlemen’s group met there once month and many of us attended educational seminars before a sale to learn how, where and with what to properly vaccinate our animals with. There was an annual bull sale where you could buy better bulls to improve your herd and a replacement female sale that had a wide reputation for selling quality females. We knew that we always had a place to sell an old cow or two, and if we had some extra grass, buy a few stockers. And we could pick up a check the same day we sold them!

It’s ads from auction barns that kept many livestock newspapers afloat and the money that ranchers spend in town one day a week is important to barber shops, the feed mill, the local farm supply, western wear shop and, if the check for the animals you sold was a big one, fancy restaurants.

If the sale barn was a church it’s religion was price discovery. The big debate going on in the cattle business

continued on page 4

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Livestock Market Digest

October 15, 2021

SAVE US FROM OUR RESCUERS cont. from page 1

Amanda & Devin Kanapilly

For more than 100 years, Farm Credit of New Mexico has been farmer and rancher owned. Over that time, we’ve helped countless family businesses prosper and grow. Unlike other financial institutions, we’re not a bank. We’re member-driven. What can we do for you?

er salaries and wages” they list another $12,667,451, or 19.0 percent of their budget.

OUCH! The NCBA is a far cry from the old cash-poor NCA, with total assets of $32,814,667 and total liabilities of $15,042,143 for net asset value of $17,772,524.

Now here’s where it gets really interesting. In 2019, Kendal Frazier was NCBA’s CEO. Previously Kendal was in charge of communications for the old NCA and the new NCBA. He was one of the main players in getting the merger foisted on the industry and was later rewarded for his career-long devotion to the NCA/NCBA by being named CEO of the NCBA with a yearly salary of $562,679! Doug Evans, the CFO, was paid $349,813 in 2019, and Colin Woodall (Sr VP, Government Affairs) was paid $271,945. Colin is now CEO of the NCBA after Kendall Frazier’s brief reign. So, you can see there is a bit of inbreeding within the group.

Looking through past Form 990’s Carl Johnson found that in 2018 Kendal Frazier (CEO) was paid $532,507. So, we can see from one year to the next Kendall got a raise of over $30,000! Alisa Harrison who

“

seem to stick around very long.

In one of the reports Carl sent to the Digest he pointed out that all of the upper echelon of NCBA staff are white males with very few exceptions. According to Payscale, nearly 70 percent of NCBA employees are male.

Are We Fools?

Enough about numbers.

The juiciest part of all the stuff Carl sent us was his letter showing his outrage, an outrage that should be felt by all cattlemen.

“For the life of me,” wrote Carl, “I do not understand why those of us that are reasonably intelligent, mostly conservative, very experienced, in the toughest of all industries, allow the NCBA and Checkoff people, who have no concept of what we are doing and what it takes to make these ranches work, draw these astronomical wages!”

“And, as we are paying these totally inept, unqualified, no cattle background people to represent us, the consumption of meat, the product we raise, steadily drops, along with numbers of ranchers and ranches. Not to mention the disastrous drop in total revenue for the existing, surviving ranchers.”

And as we are paying these totally inept, unqualified, no-cattle background people

to represent us, the consumption of meat, the

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product we raise, steadily drops ...”

was Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Research was paid $263,791.

In fact, the NCBA has many more people making over $200,00. According to Payscale the average salary per year at the NCBA is $75,000 with an average annual bonus of $6,000. We don’t know if the bonus was paid by the Big Four packers for the good work the NCBA did on their behalf, but it should have been.

For the doubters and critics of our story, when we reported that the NCBA CEO at the time, Forrest L Roberts, was making over $550,00, Carl Johnson’s federal tax info showed that Roberts was paid $690,000 his last year in that position. He was also loaned money by the NCBA to help pay for his home.

Later he was singled out by a Government Accounting Office audit and written up in the New York Times for charging plane tickets and travel expenses of his wife to industry meetings in New Zealand and Texas. According to the New York Times the couple also took along their 3-year-old daughter on the Texas trip and checkoff money covered her expenses as well. During Robert’s reign as NCBA’s CEO the group received $51 million of the $77 million collected under the checkoff, according to the Times.

We do find it odd that with its CEO’s making so much money that none of them

“For staff of NCBA to suggest the federal government make direct payments, welfare, to the ranchers, is insane! For the same staff to tell USCA (U.S. Cattlemen’s Association) to ‘go F themselves ‘ is inexcusable. All of the present staff of NCBA need to be fired, immediately!”

“If correct, the ex-CEO of NCBA received over $700,000 annually in wages, of which 72 percent comes from the checkoff (which is mandated by law). We have no choice but to pay into this.

This person was “supposed” to work for those who are members of NCBA, and not represent those who are not members! And yet all of us help pay his salary! Why should we be made to pay anyone’s wages in the NCBA when we are not members? And do not agree with many of NCBA actions and policies? Present CEO making over $500,000 per year! Membership dues do not completely pay this!

Ridiculous!”

“Folks, we are fools to continue to let this happen, plus continue to be dominated by a packing cartel consisting of four firms, two of which are foreign owned, that kills 85 percent of the total cattle killed in the US. This includes an enormous number of Mexican cattle.”

I do not know that an honest, in-depth investigation of the packing industry, political continued on page 3

October 15, 2021

Livestock Market Digest

SAVE US FROM OUR RESCUERS players, cattleman’s organizations, government bureaucracies, and politicians could even be remotely possible due to the enormous amount of money that is involved and circulating amongst all of the above named. There is a saying ‘follow the money’ which is very appropriate in our industry today.”

Follow The Money

and bureaucrats in DC as their co-pilots.

According to OpenSecrets, a watchdog group formed by The Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute on Money in Politics, “The meat processing and products industry has already spent nearly $2.1 million on lobbying in 2021 and is on

“

We predicted when we strongly objected to the merger which created the NCBA that their misdeeds would one day put the checkoff at risk.

Now we’re hearing more and more calls to end the 35-yearold program and R CALF is collecting signatures for a referendum. Aside from the NCBA getting a lion’s share of the checkoff dollars, the next biggest gripe seems to be that the money isn’t being used to promote American grown beef. This is because the packers want to be able to continue to source their supply from wherever in the world they can get it the cheapest. Mandatory COOL would kill that business model.

What is really decimating the ranks of cattlemen is that NCBA lobbyists are in lockstep with lobbyists from the Big Four beef packers.

According to the White House, since December 2020, the price of beef sold in the grocery store rose by 14 percent, pork by 12.1 percent, and poultry by 6.6 percent, contributing to over half of the higher costs consumers see at the grocery store. We wonder, did your income rise by 14 percent this past year? We didn’t think so. It’s mind boggling to think that the packers were making $1,000 and more for every beef carcass they processed and are enjoying record profits, income, and margins.

The packers are now in the driver’s seat with the NCBA

Folks, we are fools to continue

to let this happen,

plus continue to be

dominated by a packing cartel consisting of four firms, two of which are foreign owned, that kills 85 percent of the total cattle killed in the US. This includes an enormous number of Mexican cattle.”

pace to match or beat its 2020 lobbying spend of $4.1 million.” Tyson Foods, JBS, SA and Smithfield Foods, have consistently been among the top four lobbying spenders in the industry for several years.

(Two of which are foreign owned.) Tyson increased its number of lobbyists from 11 in 2020 to 17 this year, according to OpenSecrets, perhaps because of all the price fixing charges they are facing. Big Four lobbyists grind House and Senate members on labor

Page 3

continued from page 2

issues, and trade and export issues but their number one priority is their opposition to COOL.

Thieving Liars In every poll we’ve seen a huge majority of cattlemen and consumers say they want country of origin labeling.

But according to Ethan Lane, NCBA’s VP of Government Affairs, “Current National Cattlemen’s Beef Association policy is clear, members do not want mandatory country of origin labeling as the default system.”

Says Lane, “It (mandatory COOL) was not successful in generating additional revenues for producers.”

WHOA! That’s an out and out lie. The cattle-producers’ share of each consumer beef dollar jumped to a 20-year high when we had mandatory COOL. And it was no coincidence that during the time that COOL was the law of the land American ranchers enjoyed the best two years of profitability in history! But after the multinational meatpackers and their packer backer lackeys at the NCBA and the World Trade Organization got rid of COOL, the beef industry collectively lost over 20 BILLION DOLLARS over the next five years.

Fiddling While Cow Country Burns We wonder, why aren’t there more brave folks like Mr. Carl Johnson who are so upset they go out of their way to gather such hard-to-get cold hard facts? It could be because those kind of folks are out of the beef business. After all, the pork industry lost 90 percent of their producers over a very short span and we could easily do the same thing, largely in part because the group seen in Washington DC as the one that represents ranchers’ inter-

ests is the NCBA and they are busy carrying water for the Big Four meatpackers. What really galls is that NCBA staffers are getting so generously paid in the process to put you, the ones who largely pays their salaries, out of business.

In view of the preceding information, we think Carl Johnson raises a very fair and pertinent point: “Why should we be made to pay anyone’s wages in the NCBA when we are not members? And do not agree with many of NCBA actions and policies? Ridiculous!”

Suffice it to say it’s a fair question to ask, just how foolish are we anyway?

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Take your marketing program to the top!

Randy Summers

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Office: 505/243-9515 • Cell: 505/850-8544 randy@aaalivestock.com

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Livestock Market Digest

WHERE IS YOUR DOG ...

continued from page 1

from CDC will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense.

Dogs coming from a country not on the high-risk list for dog rabies are NOT required to present a rabies vaccination certificate or CDC Dog Import Permit to enter the United States. However, when you enter the United States, you must provide written or verbal statements that the dogs lived in a country that is NOT high risk for at least 6 months or since birth. Written statements and any documents must be in English or have a certified English translation.

A certified translation is a signed statement on professional letterhead issued by a licensed translator declaring that the translation is an accurate and true representation of the original document.

The translation must include the name, address and contact information of the translator and have a signatory stamp or elevated seal with the translator’s license number included. A certified translation service provider can be found online. ·Example: Your adult dog lived in the United States and visited Mexico. This dog does NOT require a rabies certificate or CDC Dog Import Permit, because Mexico is NOT on the list of high-risk countries for dog rabies.

Example: Your puppy has lived in Germany since birth and is coming to the United States. This dog does NOT require a rabies certificate or CDC Dog Import Permit, because Germany is NOT on the list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. · Example: Your adult dog lives in Japan (not a high-risk country) but visited China (high-risk country) within the past 6 months and is coming to the United States from Japan. This dog is not eligible for entry without advance written approval (CDC Dog Import Permit) due to visiting a high-risk country.

In addition to CDC regulations, you must comply with US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and your destination state’s regulations, which may be more strict than federal regulations. Please be aware that dogs imported for commercial (resale or adoption) purposes have additional requirements from USDA.

High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies For a full list of High Risk Countries visit: https://www.cdc.gov/ importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/high-risk. html Since July 14, 2021, there has been a temporary suspension for dogs imported from high-risk countries for dog rabies. CDC has the authority to issue a CDC Dog Import Permit for US citizens and lawful residents relocating from high-risk countries to bring their dogs into the United States. Such permits will be issued on an extremely limited basis.

First 90-Day Transition Process From July 14 through October 14, 2021, dogs coming from high-risk countries with CDC Dog Import Permits can enter the United States at one of these 18 airports: Anchorage (ANC), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Seattle (SEA), and Washington DC (IAD).

After October 14, 2021, dogs coming from high-risk countries with CDC Dog Import Permits must enter only at approved ports of entry.

All dogs imported into the United States must be healthy on arrival.

Dogs that have not been in a high-risk country in the previous 6 months are not required by CDC to present a rabies vaccination certificate or other paperwork, but vaccination against rabies is recommended.

Editor’s Note: Gaining this recognition regarding the danger of imported dogs has long been a project of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA). This publication congratulates the NAIA on this monumental step forward.

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October 15, 2021

Idaho Auctioneer Wins World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Western Qualifier SOURCE: LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION

E

ric Drees of Caldwell, Idaho, was named Champion at the 2022 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) Western Region qualifying event. Producers Livestock Marketing Association, located in Salina, Utah, hosted the first of three WLAC qualifying events on Tuesday, September 28. A total of 24 contestants competed for a top ten placing, which would grant them a spot in the 2022 WLAC semifinals at Shipshewana Auction, Inc. in Shipshewana, Ind. Drees started competing at the qualifying events in 2017, making the WLAC semi-finals every year since. He was recognized as a top 10 finalist at the 2019 WLAC and received the Reserve Champion title at the 2021 WLAC in Nashville.

Drees’ family first introduced him to the livestock sector, as they fed cattle but also served as order buyers at local auctions. He says he can remember traveling with his dad to auctions, falling in love with both the lifestyle and the people involved in the business.

Drees currently serves as the auctioneer at 7 Rivers Livestock Commission LLC in Emmett, Idaho; Loma Livestock, LLC in Loma, Colorado; and Montana Livestock Auction in Ramsay, Montana.

“The past couple of years, my career has just reached heights I never thought it would reach, and I just feel so fortunate to be here,” Drees said. “It means the world to me to be named the 2022 WLAC Western Qualifier Champion.”

A live cattle sale took place, with the market’s regular buyers and sellers in the seats. Auctioneer contestants were judged on the clarity and quality of their chant, presentation, ability to catch bids/ conduct the sale and how likely the judge would be to hire the auctioneer. Judges for the qualifying event were livestock market owners, managers, dealers and/or allied industry members from across the nation.

Individuals advancing to the semifinals with Drees are Neil Bouray, Webber, Kansas; Brandon Frey, Diagonal, Iowa; Joshua Garcia, Goliad, Texas; Reserve Champion Steve Goedert, Dillon, Montana; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, California; Runner-Up Champion Sixto Paiz, Portales, New Mexico; High Score Rookie Jake Parnell, Sacramento, California; Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Nebraska; Tim Yoder, Montezuma, Georgia.

Other contestants who competed were Colton Brantley, Modesto, California; David Cox, Orderville, Utah; Duke Cox, Orderville, Utah; Dakota Davis, Waukomis, Oklahoma; Kirby Hill, Paris, Texas; Mark Mast, Fairfield, Montana; Robert McDowell III, Butte, Montana; Jack Riggs, Glenns Ferry, Idaho; Kade Rogge, Rupert, Idaho; Jim Settle, Arroyo Grande, California; Daren Shumway, Lehi, Arizona.; Shawn Silverberg, Fort Collins, Colorado; Robert Strickler, Banco, Virginia; and Zack Zumstein, Marsing, Idaho.

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EXTREMIST GROUPS UP THE ANTE of new tactics that are sure to be continually deployed during future protests targeting farms and plants.

The poultry processing plant protest, which went on for more than seven hours, involved parking a rented box truck at one of the plant entrances in hopes of blocking trucks carrying birds to be processed from being able to enter. According to a DXE press release, the activists “hoped to maintain the blockade of the facility for 12 hours, potentially disrupting a supply chain which notably includes [prominent restaurant and retail brands] as buyers.” A total of 11 activists chained themselves together on top of the truck and on the ground next to it using “sleeping dragon” devices (handcuffing themselves together within PVC pipes) and tubs filled with concrete. The remaining large group of activists remained on

public property and chanted, gave speeches and held signs.

The protest at Newsom’s home also involved a small group of activists “locking down” using the “sleeping dragon” devices.

These protests were clearly designed to emulate the activities of Animal Rebellion, who have set up “blockades” outside of facilities in the UK. The use of these devices (“sleeping dragon” and the concrete-filled tubs) make it more difficult and time-consuming for law enforcement to remove activists, allowing protests to go on for even longer and hopefully disrupt facility operations (according to press reports, the plant that was targeted was still able to operate using alternate entrances). Law enforcement officers also need to have had special training to remove them (to prevent risk of injury to the activists) and need special

HERD right now is how to force the packer to competitively bid on our fat cattle as the bulk of fat cattle these days are sold in secret marketing agreements with captive feedlots where we never know the price. No wonder the packers are making upwards of a thousand bucks per head for owning a beast for one week. The only reason the beef industry hasn’t gone down the same road as the pork and poultry producers is because we still have competitive bidding at auction markets and their offshoots, video livestock sales. The chicken pluckers never had auctions and when the pork producers lost theirs they also lost 90% of their producers.

I used to travel to purebred auctions with my best friend

continued from page 1

equipment to do so, which can cause further delays in removal.

It’s outrageous that groups like DXE would hope to disrupt the food supply chain that provides access to safe, affordable meat, poultry, dairy and eggs to the vast majority of people who enjoy consuming them. Their actions are a threat to not only the safety and security of animals, property and livelihoods, but to our nation’s food security.

Please take steps today to help mitigate their efforts: Review your company’s security procedures and make sure all (including local law enforcement) are aware of the new tactics being employed.

Hannah Thompson-Weeman is vice president of communications for the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

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continued from page 1

who owned a great auction market. Owning one has to be one of the worst jobs in the world. Once a week it’s like sleep walking into a propeller.

It’s the auction barns instead of the ranchers that take all the risk of a bad check, or a small packer or a big order buyer going broke. My friend was always on the phone trying to get more buyers, letting the ones he had know what he had coming that week, or placating a complaining consigner. I remember one phone call where the rancher didn’t like how his two head consignment, a holstein calf, and an old cow, was sorted. Every time the old grump consigned he called to complain afterwards about the commission, the money deducted for the checkoff or

the brand inspection. Once he told my friend, “You know, you aren’t the only auction market in the world. I’m thinking of taking my cattle to your competitor.”

My friend quickly replied, “I just happen to have his phone number. Let me get it for you.”

It’s true what they say, you never really appreciate something until you lose it. If you’re lucky enough to have a livestock auction in your coun ty I hope you treasure it. www.LeePittsbooks.com

October 15, 2021

BLM Travels, but Grazing Preferences Don’t BLM heads east

S

ecretary of Interior Deb Haaland recently announced her decision to move BLM headquarters back to DC. The Trump administration had relocated the headquarter to Grand Junction, Colorado.

We all knew this was coming.

In fact, I’m surprised it took this long.

The only intrigue was what rationale(s) would they use to justify the decision.

Let’s take a look at some of the public statements followed by my analysis.

The move “failed to deliver promised jobs across the West and drove hundreds of people out of the agency.” – Interior Dept.

When did it become the statutory mission of the BLM to create jobs?

“There’s no doubt that the BLM should have a leadership presence in Washington, D.C. – like all the other land management agencies – to ensure that it has access to the policy-, budget-, and decision-making levers” – Haaland I’ve written before of BLM’s jealousy towards the Forest Service and other land management agencies. Here it is again with them wanting a Washington headquarters “like all the other land management agencies.”

In the end, budgets determine policy and many decisions, so clearly this is about money and BLM’s access to it.

The headquarters transition will be conducted with a goal of minimizing further disruption to employees and their families. –Haaland

Livestock Market Digest allotment. You then lease the private land (base property) in your allotment to a third party, who then files for the grazing preference on your allotment.

The BLM denies the request, you appeal but the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) affirms the BLM decision and you sue.

That is a loose summary of the legal happenings of Hanford Ranches in southern Idaho. There were other decisions and appeals in this case, but here I will focus on the BLM district manager’s decision, the IBLA decision, and now the appellant court’s decision.

The local BLM manager ruled the allotment owners were in substantial noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the permit and denied their renewal request.

Upon appeal an IBLA judge concluded the material facts supporting BLM were undisputed; that they showed that BLM was justified in declining to renew HRP’s grazing permit; and that they “established an extensive history of grazing trespass/noncompliance, which demonstrated a failure to substantially comply…”

In summary, the feds compiled a list of actions that

justified the substantial noncompliance criteria and that a declaration the ranchers were not in good standing was justified. In defending the agencies authority to determine good standing, the law dogs always cited Section 402 of FLPMA, which states grazing permits: …shall be for a term of ten years subject to such terms and conditions the Secretary concerned deems appropriate and consistent with the governing law, including, but not limited to, the authority of the Secretary concerned to cancel, suspend, or modify a grazing permit or lease, in whole or in part, pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof, or to cancel or suspend a grazing permit or lease for any violation of a grazing regulation or of any term or condition of such grazing permit or lease.

So long as (1) the lands for which the permit or lease is issued remain available for domestic livestock grazing in accordance with land use plans. (2) the permittee or lessee is in compliance with the rules and regula-

tions issued and the terms and conditions in the permit or lease specified by the Secretary concerned, and (3) the permittee or lessee accepts the terms and conditions to be included by the Secretary concerned in the new permit or lease, the holder of the expiring permit or lease shall be given first priority for receipt of the new permit or lease.

Note the (2) above.

When it comes to the “preference” issue, we turn to the recent decision of the appellant court which notes that both the Taylor Grazing Act and FLPMA provide that individuals who control land or water within or near a grazing district may receive a “preference” or “priority” to stand first in line in applying for a grazing permit.

The ranchers argued that a grazing preference survives the expiration of a corresponding permit and continues to exist until the BLM cancels it.

Because the BLM never canceled their grazing preference through any formal process, they asked the court to conclude that they retained a preference even after their grazing permit expired.

The court, however, concurred with the BLM and the IBLA concluding that after the ranching partnership’s grazing permit expired, and the BLM declined to issue a new permit due to unsatisfactory performance, the ranching partnership “did not hold any residual preference.”

For the individual rancher, this means you should pay special attention to the terms and conditions of your permit.

For the industry as a whole, we know there are groups who want to end livestock grazing in certain areas. Legislation to accomplish this is seldom successful. You better take note that a new procedure may be blossoming. Find the allotment holder is in substantial noncompliance, cancel his or her permit, and not issue a new permit as you designate the land to another public use.

Livestock grazing will no longer occur.

Until next time, be a nuisance to the devil and don’t forget to check that cinch.

Frank DuBois was the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003, is the author of a blog: The Westerner (www.thewesterner.blogspot.com) and is the founder of The DuBois Rodeo Scholarship and The DuBois Western Heritage Foundation

▫

Do You or You and Your Neighbor Have 300+ Acres of Clean Farm or Pasture Land? Lease Us Your Land!

300 acres or more relatively level, clean farm or pastureland with a large transmission line crossing?

Lease Your Land for Solar Power Production Extraordinary income to the right property owner(s) If your property qualifies or your property along with neighbors qualify you may potentially receive long term income. (20 – 40-year lease) $800 - $1200 Per acre Per year with incremental increases

Do You Have Power Lines Like This On Or Adjacent To Your Land?

The past several years have been incredibly disruptive to the organization, to our public servants, and to their families. – Haaland This is more about BLM prestige, acquiring larger appropriations and being “nice” to federal bureaucrats than it is about bringing efficient, effective and professional management to our federal lands.

It appears my expressed views of this whole thing have unfortunately come true. My concern was that time, money and political capital would be spent on this move, rather than focusing on our real problems by revising the Endangered Species Act and NEPA. The headquarters is back in Washington and those statutes stand unchanged

Page 5

• • •

Can Not be Subtranssmision Lines Must be Transmission Power Lines Must be 115 Kv to 345 Kv

Please Note the Four Essential Requirements Below Transmission lines crossing or within 200 yards of property

300 or more acres (must be in recent cultivation or in pasture or clear open range)

No timberland or clear cuts

St ate or count y maint aine d ro ad b ordering the prop er t y

Permits and preference You have four BLM grazing allotments. BLM cancels your grazing permits in whole or in part, based on noncompliance and not being in good standing, but says nothing about the grazing preference assigned to each

CALL (828)-817-5400 or (828)-817-9101

Email Us at: InnovativeSolarFarms@gmail.com

Visit our website at innovativesolarsystemsllc.com to view recent projects

Page 6

Forest Service Faces New Pressure To Boost Timber Harvests

BY MARC HELLER/ E&E NEWS

T

he Forest Service is facing renewed pressure from Republican lawmakers to boost timber harvesting, after the agency said it would fall well short of its goal for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) urged the Forest Service in a letter in early October to step up the timber program this fiscal year to make up for the past year’s shortfall. His letter comes on the heels of comments by House Agriculture ranking member Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) that the agency should aim to meet, or better yet exceed, the goals it’s setting.Blaming much of the 30 percent shortfall in Montana on the agency’s legal entanglements, Daines told regional forest supervisor Leanne Marten, “While these dynamics are outside of your direct control, making up the volume lost in fiscal year 2022 would provide significant relief to Montanans and ensure needed hazardous fuel reduction projects move forward before it is too late.”In his letter, Daines underscored the impact of the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v.

Forest Service ruling in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2015 and subsequent interpretations, which require more consultation between the Forest Service and the Interior De-

Collector 's o r n e What r

Makes a Collectable?

“I

’m not sure if this is collectible or not, but I guess it is—because I collect them.” Someone recently made this remark and it got me to thinking, “What makes something a collectible?”

While there are a few variations of the definition from source to source, all of them pretty much say, “A collectable

Livestock Market Digest partment on potential threats to endangered species.Daines said much of the timber shortfall in his state can be tied to that ruling, which he’s repeatedly tried to overturn or weaken through legislation. The amount of potential timber encumbered in lawsuits is now greater than the amount in sales, he said.Nationally, the Forest Service is dealing with a range of issues that held back timber sales, Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said at a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing last week, without mentioning litigation.

Moore said the Forest Service will probably reach just 60 percent of its 2021 goal of 4 billion board feet of timber and cited “different reasons we were not able to accomplish that.”Among other difficulties, Moore said, some areas in Western forests that were slated for timber sales were hit by wildfires, so “we’ve lost the ability to do that.”In addition, he said, wildfires forced the agency to move employees who might have been preparing timber sales to more urgent tasks.For the fiscal year that started October 1, the Forest Service said it would trim the timber goal to 3.4 billion board feet. If officials can meet that amount, it would reflect an increase over actual recent timber harvests

▫

(Greenwire, June 1).

is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector.”

So technically, by definition, anything can be collectible if someone collects it. Perhaps a better way to put it would be, it is at least collectible to that person. But this does not necessarily mean it is valuable. Does it? One thing we also need to realize is the difference between being valuable and being collectible — because not all collectibles are valuable and not all valuables are necessarily collectible. Or are they…

If the definition of a collect-

Agricultural Estate Planning: A Prenup Could Save the Ranch KATHERINE E. MERCK BUDD-FALEN LAW OFFICES, LLC

T

he term “estate planning” brings to mind wills, trusts, and complicated tax implications, but it also includes protecting yourself and your family from the worst circumstances.

Unfortunately, prenuptial agreements are a tool that must be considered to protect yourself and your family.

While most farmers and ranchers are not eager to discuss what will happen after their death, they are even less eager to diminish the joy of their wedding preparations with talk of a prenuptial agreement. This uncomfortable discussion is far less awkward, however, than dividing or losing the family ranch due to divorce or remarriage.

Divorce and remarriage can be extremely difficult to deal with in any family business, particularly a closely held, multi-generational business like an agricultural operation. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are powerful tools for protecting assets in divorce and remarriage. A prenuptial agreement is essentially a contract entered into prior to marriage that allows for a predetermined distribution of assets. Postnuptial agreements, on the other hand, are the same type of agreement, simply made after the couple is legally married.

Most states have statutes

ible is any object regarded as being of value to a collector, and we are to assume that pretty much anything can be collectible, then anything of value is also collectible.

But how do we determine if something is truly valuable in the collectibles world. And who determines value? The short answer is — the marketplace determines monetary value. However value is also subjective. There is sentimental value, regional value, functional value, social value, collectible value and so forth. And different types of value are not equally important to all consumers.

But when talking about “collectibles” in the traditional sense of the word, it is a commonly held belief that most folks prefer to add to the standard definition by saying that the object is also potentially valuable. Meaning it is worth more than its original value or that it goes up in value over time. This effect generally happens due to rarity and popularity (among other factors, including the passing of time). In other words, the item also has some monetary value in order to be considered desirable to most collectors — at least to some degree.

When talking about “collectible value” in the marketplace, we tend to place more value on items which are rare in nature, yet remain popular.

An example of this would be the Honus Wagner baseball card produced by the American Tobacco Company in 1909. These

October 15, 2021 that dictate the distribution of assets upon divorce or death, but a prenuptial agreement may be used to waive statutory elective shares and community property rights. In community property states, including Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin, property acquired during marriage is owned equally by each spouse. While property that is inherited or gifted is not considered community property, property that is purchased during the marriage, including land and assets that contribute to the existing inherited ranch, are considered community property. This has the potential to lead to a sticky situation in the event of divorce.

Although prenuptial agreements are often considered to protect the parties in the event of a divorce, they can also be used to protect the farm or ranch in the case of a death or remarriage. In the case of a blended family, for example, the second spouse may be entitled to a portion of the ranch upon the death of the owner, even when the owner intended for the entire ranch to pass to his or her children from the first marriage.

The second spouse may then transfer their share of the ranch to his or her kids from a prior marriage, dividing the ranch between two families rather than between siblings as intended.

Therefore, it is important for a landowner to understand statutory estate distributions that would occur without any type of estate planning, which may include the distribution to a second spouse against the landowner’s wishes.

Nuptial agreements can be used to essentially opt out of statutory community property rights, which should be considered in blended family

situations. Divorces and marriages that blend together families with children become even more complicated in situations involving multiple rights and encumbrances such as easements and federal grazing permits. In such cases, nuptial agreements should specifically address ownership of different property rights including mineral rights and water rights, as well as any entitlement to income from leases and other encumbrances.

As with all aspects of estate planning, it is essential that you have clear, long-term goals in mind. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are important tools that can be used for the benefit of keeping the ranch viable and ensuring that it remains in the family for future generations.

Katherine E. Merck is an Associate Attorney with BuddFalen Law Offices, LLC with a primary focus on property rights, estate planning, environmental, and natural resources law.

Budd-Falen Law Offices, LLC, has attorneys licensed to practice law in Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.

This article should not be understood to state or imply that any lawyers of this law firm are certified as specialists in a particular field of law. Colorado does not certify lawyers as specialists in any field. The Wyoming State Bar does not certify any lawyer as a specialist or expert. Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyer’s credentials and ability, and not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This article is informational and is not legal advice. Use of this article or contact with this law firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.

were originally given away with a pack of cigarettes! However, in modern times, one of these cards can sell for over 1 million dollars! The reason the card is so valuable is very few have survived the test of time and there are many collectors out there for sports memorabilia. So this item qualifies on two main points — it is rare, yet remains popular to a large audience in the marketplace.

Another thing which often gets confused with being valuable or collectible, is age. Folks often use the terms collectible and antique interchangeably.

But it’s important to realize there is a distinct difference between them. While all antiques technically could be collectibles, not all collectibles are necessarily antiques (modern art is an example of this). Some antiques can be worth a lot of money — others not worth much at all (other than sentimental or historical value). So be careful and research which antiques are truly “collectible” by also being valuable. They should be considered as such because they are still desirable in the marketplace — otherwise you are just getting a piece of old decor or “yard art” — and not a collectible.

Something else worth mentioning is this: things that were made to be “collectible” — rarely are. This includes pretty much all kinds of commemorative or mass produced products. As a general rule, if the “collectible” says “Made in China” or “Made in Taiwan” on it — it’s not a

collectible. It is a decor item, or possibly a cheap knock-off.

And these types of “collectibles” are rarely a wise investment. At least if you are hoping for appreciation in the future. They are decorative items at best, and mass produced decor is rarely “collectible” or valuable later on.

But people still collect things like these don’t they? You might ask. So doesn’t this make them a collectible? Hmmm…

Technically — yes. As mentioned, anything of value to a collector could be considered a collectible. But when adding in the additional stress test regarding value, items mass produced as “collectibles” rarely qualify.

But as mentioned above, there are several other reasons to collect besides monetary value.

▫

“Collect the things you love, that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story.”

– Erin Flett, Designer That is great advice!

However, if you are collecting with an eye towards the collection someday being worth more than you invested, you don’t want to be like the guy who collected leaves. You see, he really thought he was “raking” it in — till he tried to sell.

▫

October 15, 2021

Livestock Market Digest

REAL ESTATE GUIDE

www.scottlandcompany.com

Ben G. Scott – Broker Krystal M. Nelson – NM QB 800-933-9698 5:00 a.m./10:00 p.m.

RANCH & FARM REAL ESTATE

We need listings on all types of ag properties large or small!

■ SIGNIFICANT PRICE REDUCTION! RIMROCK RANCH, BUEYEROS, NM – 14,993.49 total acres +/- (12,157.49 deeded acres +/-, 2,836 +/- New Mexico State Lease).

Livestock Market Digest Live water with five miles of scenic Ute Creek.

Elk, deer and antelope to go along with a good cattle ranch!

ALAMOSA CREEK RANCH – (Roosevelt Co., NM) 14,982 +/- acres (10,982 ac. +/- deeded, 4,000 ac. +/- State Lease). Good cow ranch in Eastern NM excellent access via US 60 frontage between Clovis and Fort Sumner. Alamosa creek crosses through the heart of the gently rolling grassland.

SARGENT CANYON RANCH – (Chaves/Otero Co.) 18,460 +/- ac. - 200 +/- deeded, 2,580 +/- State, 11,200 +/- BLM, 4,480 +/- Forest permitted for 380 AUs year-round, well watered, good headquarters, very nice updated home, excellent pens & out buildings. Scenic ranch!

PRICE REDUCED! DRY CIMARRON RANCH – (Union Co., NM) 1,571 ac.+/- of grassland on the dry Cimarron River, located on pvmt. near Kenton, OK just under the Black Mesa.

CEDARVALE, NM – 6,961 acre ranch (5,000 521 Deeded West Second St. •ac.Portales, NMLease) 88130 ac. +/– 1,961 +/- State or 575-226-0672 fax well 575-226-0671 fenced & watered w/good pens, new barn.

TEXAS PANHANDLE Let’s look at this 6,000 Buena– Vista Realty hd. permitted feedyard w/953Broker: ac. +/-, a recently Qualifying remodeledA.H. owner’s residences for (Jack) home, Merrick 2575-760-7521 employee housing, addtl. home on 6 ac., 5 www.buenavista-nm.com pivot sprinkler irr. circles, truck scale, cattle scale, excellent perimeter fencing, located on pavement & all weather road, currently in full operation.

SUPER OPPORTUNITY! – One of the best steak houses in the nation just out of Amarillo & Canyon• 83 at Umbarger, state-of-theart bldg., acre woodTX.,home with barns, turn-key w/complete facilities. meadows and woods. Fronts State EAST EDGE OF FT. SUMNER, NM – a 900 hd.

Rd.w/immaculate $545,000 7.32 ac. +/-, a beautiful grow yard home, & other improvements w/a long line of equipment included, on pvmt.

• 160 acre Ranger Eastland Co, DALLAM CO, TX – 1,216.63 ac. +/- of CRP/ $560,000 ranchland w/irrigation, re-development potential, wells & pipelines already in place.

QUAY CO, NM – 142 ac. +/-, 120.5 ac. +/• 270 acre Mitchell County, Texas CRP, very nice site-built home & barn, located on ranch.road.Investors dream; excellent all weather

TATE GUIDE

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mitt, TX 79027 Scott - Broker lifying Broker am/10:00pm company.com

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uadalupe Co., eded & 519 anch on both g flow daily) mner; wildlife, buyer looking New Mexico

980 ac. +/past, land lays e of Hwy. 54. on Co., NM – and w/statey remodeled in very good n pvmt. . +/- heavily listing r livestockagent w/ 75-825-1291. ences etc., on ta-nm.com e front gate. ic ac. +/- on d by Lincoln in Pines & ed meadow Penasco. This uild a legacy

4 ac. irr., on exico, adjoins l.

POTENTIAL xline Special,

+/- w/water & a beautiful 3 bathrooms, etal shop.

Page 7

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES

Selling residential, farm, ranch, commercial and relocating properties.

Selling residential, farm, COLETTA RAY ranch, commercial and Pioneer Realty relocating properties.

1304 Pile Street, Clovis, NM 88101

COLETTA RAY 575-799-9600 Direct Pioneer Realty 575.935.9680 Office 1304 Pile Street, Clovis, NM 88101 575.935.9680 Fax 575-799-9600 Direct coletta@plateautel.net 575.935.9680 Office www.clovisrealestatesales.com 575.935.9680 Fax coletta@plateautel.net www.clovisrealestatesales.com

230 SOCORRO ACRE GAME & RETREAT PLAZA REALTY that is a dream.

Lakes, woods,

SOLD

the Plaza meadows,Ongame galore, 35 miles Donald Brown out ofQualifying Dallas, Kaufman Broker County.

505-507-2915 cell @10,000 PA 505-838-0095 fax 116–Plaza 133 ACRES 24 Miles out of PO Box 1903 Socorro, NM 87801 $13,000 Dallas, ready to develop. www.socorroplazarealty.com dbrown@socorroplazarealty.com per acre 313 ACRES NORTH OF DALLAS AG LAND LOANS AGMAJOR LAND LOANS ON HIGHWAYS 121 & AsLow LowAsAs 3% As 4.5% 2.9% 69 – OPWKCAP Nice horse barn with living OPWKCAP 2.9% INTEREST RATESAS AS LOW AS 3% INTEREST RATES LOW 4.5% quarters. Scheduled $11,500 onon25AS Payments Scheduled 25 Years Payments Years 234 SHOW RANCH – 8,000.

Imaculate home, cattle show barn, Joe Stubblefield & Associates 2313830 milesWestern from Dallas $2.8MTX St., Amarillo,

SOLD

UNDERCT CONTRA

806/622-3482 • cell 806/674-2062 joes3@suddenlink.net Michael Perez Associates Nara Visa, NM • 575/403-7970

Bottari Realty Paul Bottari, Broker

775/752-3040

SCOTT MCNALLY

Nevada Farms & raNch PrOPerTY

www.ranchesnm.com 575/622-5867 575/420-1237 Ranch Sales & Appraisals

www.bottarirealty.com

AG LAND LOANS INTEREST RATES AS LOW AS 3.5% Payments Scheduled on 25 Years

Joe Stubblefield & Associates 13830 Western St., Amarillo, TX 806/622-3482 • cell 806/674-2062 joes3@suddenlink.net Michael Perez Associates Nara Visa, NM • 575-403-7970

Call

CALDWELL First time offering of a quality ranch property located in northeastern • 840 Immaculate, HuntRANCH Co, TX.

Chaves County,40New Ranch. Pastures, tanks,Mexico and approximately 20 miles northwest of the small community of Elida. lakes. Beautiful barns, of a total of 7,200 deeded acres and 640 acres of state lease. Watered by Configured in home, two tracts NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RANCH PROPERTY and other improvements.

Some Grazing capacity three wells and pipelines. is estimated to be- 130 AUYL. Priced forreduced to $345.00 31 years in the ranch business see www.ranch-lands.com videos & brochures minerals, game galore.

All for $1.35 per deeded acre. This place has hadDUANE some good summer rains and has not been stocked since last & DIXIE McGARVA RANCH: approx. 985 acres Likely, CA. with about 600+ acre gravity flood million. privatea542 AU BLM acres so of the irrigated level to flood year. This ranch has an abundance ofirrigated feed,pastures comePLUStake look orpermit. callAbout for 425 a brochure.

Price:are$2,484,000 excellent pastures with balance good flood irrigated pastures. NO PUMPING COST! Dryland is perfect for expansion to pivot irrigated alfalfa if desired. Plus BLM permit for 540 AU is fenced into 4 fields on about 18,000 acres only 7 miles away. REDUCED ASKING PRICE - $3,125,000

COWBOY DRAW Joe Priest Real Estate RANCH

Excellent small cattle ranch located in southeastern New BEAVER CREEK RANCH: about 82,000 acres - with 2,700 deeded acres plus contiguous USFS & BLM Mexico approximately 50 miles northwest of pair; Roswell onirrigated thealfalfa, Chaves/Lincoln 7,455 total permits for 450 580+- acres pasture, and meadow county from Beaver line.

Creek water rights and one irrigation well. 3 homes, 2 hay barns, 4 feedlots each w/ 250 ton barns, 2 large reservoirs, can run up to acres with 2,600 deeded with the balance BLM leaseASKING acres.

500-600 cowsfederal YEAR ROUND. REDUCED PRICEPermitted - $5,400,000. for 151 animal units joepriestre.net • joepriestre@earthlink.com yearlong with an additional 30 animal on a Approx. temporary with two BEARunits CREEK RANCH: 1,278 acresnonrenewable winter range ground and basis. recreationalWatered property. Located on Bear Creek and accessed from South Cow Creek Valley Road. Should be great hunting for deer, wild turkey, wild wells and several miles of water pipeline. draws run Deeded through ranch that ranches. provide pigs, quail &Two owner larger states goodopen trout fishing in Bear Creek. accessthe easement thru neighbor No improvements & very private inside the ranch. overflow areas to enhance grazing. The terrain and rolling with good turf. The ranch has had Now only $700 per is acreopen - $894,600 good summer rains with no cattle sinceBILL last spring.

The ranch is inLAND excellent condition.INC. Call for a WRIGHT, SHASTA SERVICES,

1-800/671-4548

530-941-8100 • brochure and come take a look. Price: $1,350,000

DRE# 00963490

• www.ranch-lands.com

O’NEILL LAND, llc

in state lease. Excellent grass and water. Two plus miles of the Chico Creek meandering through the center of the property.

Additional wells and dirt tanks. Nice historic head quarters privately located with shade trees and excellent views of the property. Shipping pens in central portion of property. $2,837,318

home. Owns both sides of river in places. Horse/cow/chicken/ vegetable garden/greenhouse/orchard set up. Country living at it’s finest, in town, but in a world of your own. Very special on river. Appointment only. $650,000.

RATON MILLION DOLLAR VIEW, Colfax County, NM. 97.68

B

A.H. (J ww

14298 N

521 West Second St. • Portales, NM 88130

575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax

Buena Vista Realty

575-226-0671 www.buenavista-nm.com

cash flow. Rock formation being crushed and sold; wind turbans, some minerals. Irrigation water developed, crop & cattle, modest improvements. Just off I-20. Price reduced to $1.25 million.

505-243-9515

for more information

joepriestre.net • joepriestre@earthlink.com

See these Properties with details at www.buenavista-nm.com or call agent for info

575-226-0

AS PRO R

521 West Second St., Portales, NM 88130

Rural Properties around Portales, NM 1242 NM 480 - Nice home on 59.7 acres, grass 427 S Rrd P 1/2 - Large nice home, lots of barns 24+ ac 694.9 ACRE ROOSEVELT CO NM 1931pens, S Rrdlocation B has total new 5 1694 RANCH S Rrd 4,IN Great home, barns, cattle 2344 S pipe Rrd corners K eastetc, of pipe Dora, NM, POND, great -nice Near wind farms wire, steel post, corrals, ranch house with 2 good water wells, some CRP time remainshomes $665,000& can have horses, etc.

All properties excellent FARM LAND IN and ROOSEVELT CO atNM 2550 S. Rrd 6 159.8 ac some See these other properties www.buenavista-nm.com CRP remains, eligible to re-inroll if new program $120,000 — See details on www.buenavista-nm.com

521 West Se

Advertise to Cattlemen and Ranchers!

As Low As 3.5% OPWKCAP 3.5%

1-800/671-4548

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES

y limits of Roswell, NM. Six total acres ved with a 2, 200 square foot residence,

Bar M Real Estate

Joe Priest Real Estate

Scott McNally, Qualifying Broker ch that has been owned and operated s southeast of Corona, NM in Lincoln Bar M Real Estate, LLC M Lease Acres and 2,240 NM State Box 145, Cimarron, NM 8771488202 • 575/376-2341 • Fax: 575/376-2347 P.O. Box 428,P.O.Roswell, NM land@swranches.com • www.swranches.com UYL. Water provided by five wells and corrals. The ranch had a good summerOffice: 575-622-5867 CHICO CREEK RANCH, Colfax Cell: County, NM. 575-420-1237 NEW LISTING. CIMARRON ON THE RIVER, Colfax County, NM. 7.338 +/6,404.26 +/- Total Acres, Located approximately 10 miles east of deeded acres with 4.040 acre-feet per annum out of the for a brochure or view on my website. Website: www.ranchesnm.com Springer New Mexico. 3,692.60 +/- deeded acres with balance Maxwell-Clutton Ditch. Custom country-chic 2,094 +/- sq ft

R CT

Page 7

Qualifying Broker: A.H. (Jack) Merrick 575-760-7521 www.buenavista-nm.com Call Buena Vista Realty at 575-226-0671 or the listing agent

Lori Bohm 575-760-9847, or Melody Sandberg 575-825-1291.

Many good pictures on MLS or www.buenavista-nm.com

521 West Second St. • Portales, NM 88130

575-226-0671 or 575-226-0672 fax

Buena Vista Realty

Qualifying Broker: A.H. (Jack) Merrick 575-760-7521 www.buenavista-nm.com

TABLE ROCK GEM! Elegant, quality, meticulously maintained, attention to detail - words do not do justice to this home. The finish work in this home down to the marble floors in each bathroom and hardwoods is spectacular. Walk into the living room with soaring ceilings (check the crown molding) and a wall of windows to view the beautiful lake. The gas fireplace (one of three) warms, warms a chilly morning. The chefs kitchen features custom cabinets, granite countertops, center island, pantry, wine fridge and lots of built in features. The formal dining and casual dining areas offer a serene view of the lake. The main floor large master also has a lakeview (and fireplace) with ensuite bath and walk-in shower, and separate jetted tub. Upstairs are two full bedrooms with beautiful lakeview. Also upstairs a non-conforming third dorm bedroom which accommodates multiple beds or serves as a separate living area.

Downstairs features another living area, gas fireplace with a built in bar (second wine fridge), another bedroom with lakeview, and a large storage room with a safe/tornado shelter. There is also a separate pool table/workout room, 3 car garage, central vacuum, three HVAC systems, on a corner lot with beautiful landscaping. Both covered decks with large outdoor fans face the lake. You won’t find a better home on Table Rock Lake. MLS#60189891

O’NEILL LAND, llc P.O. Box 145, Cimarron, NM 87714 • 575/376-2341 • Fax: 575/376-2347 land@swranches.com • www.swranches.com

RATON MILLION DOLLAR VIEW, Colfax County, NM. 97.68 +/- deeded acres in 2 parcels with excellent home, big shop, wildlife, a true million dollar view at the end of a private road. $489,000.

MIAMI 40 ACRES, Colfax County, NM. Private 2 bedroom getaway with elevated fantastic view, nice porch, little casita, irrigation and pole barn.

Extremely private setting. $450,000.

CONTRACT PENDING COLMOR-OCATE CREEK, Colfax and Mora County, NM 853 +/- deedTCreek.

AC NbyTR edCO acres split I25 and Ocate Suit cattle operation, with some wildNGin creek.

DIholes life drawn PEtoNwater

MIAMI 55.89 ACRES, Colfax County, NM. Remodeled adobe, awesome shop, out buildings, long road frontage, private fishing in Miami Lake. Amazing porch view. $400,000.

$617,000

UTE PARK RIVER PLACE 6.83 +/ACRES, 450 +/- feet of the Cimarron

River and more than that of Ute Creek are the south and east boundaries of this unique one of a kind water property. 2 bedroom 1 bathroom cabin, year round access off Hwy 64. $599,000

E

E

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Livestock Market Digest

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October 15, 2021

Workers Who Maintain Supply Chains Warn of Worldwide ‘System Collapse’

BY JACK PHILLIPS / EPOCH TIMES

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everal industry groups have warned world leaders of a worldwide supply-chain “system collapse” due to pandemic restrictions, coming as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell suggested that the current period of higher inflation will last until 2022.

The International Chamber of Shipping, a coalition of truck drivers, seafarers, and airline workers, has warned in a letter to heads of state attending the United Nations General Assembly that governments need to restore freedom of movement to transportation workers amid persistent COVID-19 restrictions and quarantines.

If nothing is done, they warned of a “global transport system collapse” and suggested that “global supply chains are beginning to buckle as two years’ worth of strain on transport workers take their toll,” according to the letter. It was signed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which represent some 65 million transport workers around the world.

“All transport sectors are

also seeing a shortage of workers, and expect more to leave as a result of the poor treatment millions have faced during the pandemic, putting the supply chain under greater threat,” the letter said. “We also ask that WHO and the ILO raise this at the U.N. General Assembly and call on heads of government to take meaningful and swift action to resolve this crisis now,” they wrote.

Meanwhile, retailer Costco said it’s chartering its own container ships between Asia and North America amid supply chain issues worldwide, Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti said in a recent conference call.

Costco, he said, is dealing with “port delays, container shortages, COVID disruptions, shortages on various components, raw materials and ingredients, labor cost pressures” along with “trucks and driver shortages,” Fox News reported.

Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, attempted to shed some light on the problem during a recent ABC News interview, noting that there’s a significant backup of container ships off the coast of major ports of entry.

“We’re witnessing a pandemic-induced buying surge by the American consumer, the likes of which we’ve never seen,” he told

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Senate Confirms Tracy StoneManning As New Head of the Bureau of Land Management

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he Bureau of Land Management has an official head, for the first time since the Obama administration.

The U.S. Senate split on party lines in the 50-45 vote to confirm Tracy Stone-Manning to lead the bureau.

All of the Democrats voted yes while five Republicans were absent.

Republicans opposed Stone-Manning’s nomination, arguing her work with environmental groups shows she wouldn’t support traditional energy development as part of the BLM’s multi-use mission. They also argued her involvement with a tree-spiking incident in the 1980s made her unfit to run a public lands agency.

Stone-Manning previously ran Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality and served as chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. More recently, she has helmed the National Wildlife Federation.

Republicans have label Stone-Manning an “eco-terrorist” for her connection to the tree-spiking incident. Kristi Burton Brown, the head of the Colorado GOP, called Bennet and Hickenlooper’s support for her confirmation an “absolutely shameful vote” that “will be devastating for Colorado and the West.”

The BLM has been without a confirmed director since the Obama administration. Former President Donald Trump tapped the department’s deputy director for policy, William Perry Pendley, last September, but pulled his nomination before the Senate could consider it.

When President Joe Biden nominated Stone-Manning to lead the BLM, more than 100 conservation and public lands groups sent a letter to Senate leaders urging her confirmation.

She will take the reins at a fraught moment for the bureau.

The Trump administration’s decision to relocate BLM’s top Washington, D.C., staff to offices across the West — including shifting the headquarters to Grand Junction — led to a hollowing out at the bureau, with hundreds of staff choosing to quit or retire rather than make the move.

In mid-September, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the BLM’s national headquarters will be moving back to D.C., although she promised an expanded ‘Western headquarters’’ would remain in Grand Junction.

The BLM manages 8.3 million acres of public land in Colorado, juggling often competing interests around conservation, recreation, energy development and grazing.

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the network on Sept. 29.

In remarks on September 29, Powell said that the current spike in inflation is a “consequence of supply constraints meeting very strong demand,” saying it’s “associated with the reopening of the economy, which is a process that will have a beginning, middle and an end.”

“It’s very difficult to say how big the effects will be in the meantime or how long they last,” Powell said during a forum hosted by the European Central Bank. The current price surge, he said, is due to bottlenecks in the supply chain, although he believes prices will eventually come down on their own. The surge will continue into 2022 before dropping, Powell said.

The Federal Reserve doesn’t anticipate the current trend to “lead to a new inflation regime, in which inflation remains high year after year,” Powell said.

“Managing through that process over the next couple of years is … going to be very challenging because we have this hypothesis that inflation is going to be transitory. We think that’s right,” Powell said. “But we are concerned about underlying inflation expectations remaining stable, as they have so far.”

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R-CALF Scores Victory in Checkoff Case

BY LISA M. KEEFE / MEATINGPLACE.COM

T

he U.S. District court for the District of Columbia has ruled that a lawsuit brought by independent cattlemen group R-CALF USA against USDA over the agency’s amendments to the operation of the federal Beef Checkoff program can move forward, for now, but key legal matters related to standing in the case have yet to be decided.

In the case, R-CALF is suing over agreements struck between USDA and state beef councils that essentially, R-CALF said, enables the councils to use funds collected under the federal beef checkoff program for programming that that beef producers believe is harmful to their business. Its lawsuit asks the federal district court in Washington, D.C., to declare the agreements unlawful.

U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss ruled against USDA’s motion to dismiss on the grounds that R-CALF lacked standing in the case and that R-CALF had failed to state a claim. However, the judge left open the question of whether the court has subject-matter jurisdiction in the case, according to court documents.

“The Court will convene the parties for a status conference to set a schedule for further proceedings relating to standing,” the judge indicated.

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October 15, 2021

Livestock Market Digest

Page 9

USDA Introduces New Insurance Policy for Farmers Who Sell Locally

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he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rolling out a new insurance option specifically for agricultural producers with small farms who sell locally. The new Micro Farm policy simplifies record keeping and covers post-production costs like washing and value-added products.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) created this new policy based on research directed by the 2018 Farm Bill, and it includes feedback from producers who grow for their local communities. The policy will be available beginning with the 2022 crop year.

“We are excited to offer this new coverage for producers who work to provide their communities with fresh and healthy food,” said RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. “USDA is focused on supporting local and regional food systems, and this new crop insurance policy is designed with this important sector of agriculture in mind.”

The new policy is offered through Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and it has distinct provisions that can provide more access to the program, including:

■■

■■

No expense or individual commodity reporting needed, simplifying the recordkeeping requirements for producers

washing and packaging commodities and value-added products, are considered allowable revenue The Micro Farm policy is available to producers who have a farm operation that earns an average allowable revenue of $100,000 or less, or for carryover insureds, an average allowable revenue of $125,000 or less. RMA’s research showed that 85% of producers who sell locally reported they made less than $75,000 in gross sales.

The Micro Farm policy builds on other RMA efforts to better serve specialty and organic crop growers. This includes WFRP, which provides coverage for producers with larger operations that may not be eligible for Micro Farm. RMA recently made improvements to WFRP as part of a broader set of new policies and expanded policies to assist specialty crop and organic producers.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation approved the Micro Farm policy in late September, and additional details will be provided later this fall.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma. usda.gov

Revenue from post-production costs, such as

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Page 10

Livestock Market Digest

Our Nation Needs a National Initial Wildland Fire Attack Policy Today Because It Is a Matter of Life or Death

T

he 2021 fire season in the West was the worst in history in many regions. The Dixie Fire in California, nearing one million acres of devastation, will soon be contained by the weather, in spite of the fire management team’s effort to stop it during the last two and a half months.

The well-equipped and exceptionally well-trained fire suppression crews, including CAL Fire and the US Forest Service with their partners in the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), proved no match for this mega inferno.

This massive area will remain a blackened memorial to the US Forest Service’s inability to fulfill their Mission of “Caring for the Land and Serving People.”

This fire started on July 13th with several small blazes. For reasons we are just beginning to understand, the Forest Service did not choose to put those small fires out.

Instead, citizens found out, in the most insidious way possible, of the “Let Burn” policy.

This US Forest Service National Fire Management Policy was made very clear to all of us in the wake of this massive burn-through direct witness of the loss of entire towns, family homes, businesses, livelihoods and generations of lifetimes of land and resource stewardship. We felt the human anguish (some of us firsthand) as well as heard the cries of wildlife and livestock as

they innocently were caught in the walls of flame.

It is clear that the political agendas of various internal and external parties have infiltrated the Forest Service and other government agencies and have weakened the will, morale and ability of the leadership of the Forest Service to perform professionally. The fact that we, the public, were not included in the development of a national wildland fire policy called “let burn” is painfully clear and totally unacceptable.

This lack of public involvement in fire management planning has bewildered us and left us less willing to put up with the Forest Service’s brazen attitude about their expertise in forestry and wildland fire management.

Not following their own federal policy making regulations--including public involvement in assessing fire management policy alternatives as well as assessing the environmental impact of all management alternatives--cannot be ignored. They are authorized only to make policy and management decisions that have been through this process. They have clearly been operating outside of their own federal policy making regulations and have not complied with the National Environmental Policy Act. We have been treated as if the government agency alone knows what is best, and that they and their partners are the

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experts and that certain “stakeholders” were involved in their policy creation---presumably leaving no need for citizen input. Those stakeholders turn out to be special interest groups and consultants. The fire issue has become “them” versus the American public.

Those who have relied on Washington, DC politics to cover their tracks in Wildland Fire Management have failed the American people by not seeking public advice and support in how they planned to fight fires. It has left us stunned and enraged with the arrogance of the federal players, including the stakeholder “climate change ecologists.”

It is time that we Americans retrieve our right to be involved in federal policymaking. We cannot be excluded, or we will be acquiescing--and complicit in--the complete devastation of our forests, grasslands and waters.

The lack of active forestry practices over the past 35-plus years has resulted in overgrown fire-prone forests. The extreme disastrous impacts of “fiddling while California burns” is best heard through the anguished appeals of the hundreds of thousands of the Dixie, Monument, River, Camp, North Complex, Lava, and other wildland fire victims (of this year and past years) whose lives and futures have been scorched and laid bare.

Many are now homeless, destitute and soon to be traumatized further by the short-term memory lapse of no further media attention. Their individual voices must be magnified and heard by all Americans, over the

October 15, 2021 roar of the fires. We all have a clear stake in each other’s pain and anguish when we are at the mercy of a politically-driven federal policy that makes no sense.

Many people in California, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and other western states have first-hand knowledge of what it is like to see the outof-control fire whose flames are being “herded” and not extinguished. We have seen the use of fire to fight fire. It’s alarming to see a shoulder-to-shoulder fire crew wielding drip torches to throw more fire to create large “burn outs” that have only served to cause more destruction.

Forest Service Regional Officials announced that the Dixie Fire is so large that containment must be a long-term plan. Forestry and other resource “experts” looked beyond the urgent needs of the citizens as this fire was nearing the destruction of more than a million acres. This fire scorched a path through several communities, including Greenville, whose families remain in trauma and homeless.

We must support a goal to improve future federal forest management. Pursuing a sound, safe Initial Fire Attack ---putting each fire out immediately after it starts--must be implemented if there are going to be any unburned national forests remaining in five years in California.

Unfortunately, Wildland Fire Management Policy changes with the election of each U.S. President.

President Biden’s agenda is driven by “Climate Change” and supported by certain ecologists with an agenda to restore our lands to “pre-Eu-

USDA Provides $100M for Food Supply Chain Financing JACQUI FATKA | BEEF

T

he pandemic exposed a number of weaknesses in the food supply chain, including a lack of additional cold storage and financing challenges for entities looking to expand. As part of its ongoing use of $4 billion of funds made available under the American Rescue Plan, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack unveiled plans for $100 million in funding for loan guarantees to leverage hundreds of millions more in lending through community and private sector lenders to expand meat and poultry processing capacity and finance other food supply chain infrastructure.

The loan guarantees are not solely focused on the meat side, but rather will help to start-up or expand entities in the food supply chain that aggregate, process, manufacture, wholesale or distribute food; address supply chain bottlenecks; and increase the resiliency of the food supply chain. This initiative will support key supply chain infrastructure investments to expand and scale existing capacity, as well as support long-term investments in new operations.

“We thought that it was necessary to establish yet another other way of helping

and strengthening the supply chain and making sure that we were doing everything we can to link producers to customers as efficiently as possible,” Vilsack says.

As producer groups or cooperatives brand or market a product, sometimes bankers may not be willing to provide the credit for those loans if they’re not as familiar with the risks associated with the facilities. “We are confident that these 100 million dollars could be leveraged multiple times,” he adds, as the money is paid back can again be recirculated for new loans that will be available to free up the credit to enable this middle to be strengthened.

“This is another meaningful step in our efforts to act on lessons from COVID-19 to build a food system that is fair, competitive, distributed and resilient where a greater share of the food dollar goes to those growing, harvesting, processing and preparing our food,” Vilsack said in a statement.

This new commitment of $100 million for loan guarantees is on top of the previously announced $500 million investment to expand meat and poultry processing capacity made earlier this summer. In updating progress on that investment, over 500 comments offered insight on how to best target those funds. Vilsack anticipates

ropean settlement conditions.”

The politically driven eco-environmentalists have been emboldened by the Administration’s political agenda. This means that Forest Service Chief Moore, as a Biden appointee, will support continuation of the “Let Burn” policy and will resist an aggressive “Initial Fire Attack Policy.”

This is a dire emergency for citizens across the nation. We must seek a nonpolitically-driven Wildland Fire Policy. Wildland Fire is impartial and does not discern whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, Independent or a member of the Green Party.

Accepting a policy that kills people, wildlife (and destroys natural habitat), livestock, natural resources, and livelihoods is not acceptable and is sadly only political. We must implement an Initial Fire Attack Wildland Fire Management Policy quickly, as if it were a matter of Life, or Death, because IT IS! Written by Bill Dennison (retired logger and forester), Nancy O. Geehan (Sweetgrass--Dedicated to Getting the Politics Out of Our Nation’s Natural Resources and Environmental Policy) and Heather Smith Thomas (rancher/writer).

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USDA releasing its framework at the end of the year, with grants and proposals submitted in the first quarter of 2022.

USDA also recently announced $55 million in grants for small and very small processing facilities and an additional $100 million for overtime fees experienced during the pandemic at these facilities.

“We’re going to continue to press forward on all of these issues because we think it will have an effect in improving farmer income which is important, and also making sure that consumers are getting a fair price at the checkout counter.

That’s the goal,” says Vilsack.

USDA is hosting a lender training webinar on October 14 to inform rural lenders, community development financial institutions, food sector lenders and community lenders about how they can become approved to participate in this program.

In addition, USDA is planning a forum for financing entities aligned with the announcement of the eligibility and application requirements.

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October 15, 2021

Livestock Market Digest

Farm Groups Fear Being Left Behind as Budget Bill Shrinks

BY MARC HELLER / E&E DAILY

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or groups that applauded tens of billions of dollars for farms and forests in congressional Democrats’ big spending bill last month, a less cheerful reality is beginning to settle in: The final version may be nowhere near as generous.

Government support for farmland conservation, tree planting and other climate-smart practices might see big reductions as lawmakers look for ways to slash the overall cost of the budget reconciliation bill from $3.5 trillion to $2 trillion or less.

Lobbying groups said they’re bracing for the possibility that agriculture could lose out to other priorities as top congressional leaders rewrite the “Build Back Better Act” to satisfy moderate Democrats’ demand for a smaller bill.

Some of that concern is historical, said Wes King, senior policy specialist at the National

Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, which supports increased funding for conservation. In past years, farm programs have taken an unfair share of spending cuts, he said, citing the budget sequestration rules that Congress imposed on itself several years ago for spending reductions across many federal programs, and that have continued in spending bills on coronavirus relief, for instance.

“Conservation programs that should be a central tool in our efforts to address the climate crisis are oversubscribed and already forced to turn away eligible producers,” King said in a memo he’s been circulating on Capitol Hill since August.

“Further cuts to conservation through sequestration, as included in CARES act and the proposed bipartisan infrastructure package come at the expense of water quality, soil health, climate change mitigation, and agricultural productivity,” he wrote.

King told E&E News he’s further concerned by the lack of consensus among farm groups about how billions of dollars in additional aid should be spent, as well as by the Biden administration’s relatively small provision for conservation — about $1 billion — in the plan it first sent to Congress.

On the other hand, King and others said they don’t have much firm information about

Baxter

BLACK

ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE

www.baxterblack.com

Cowboy Astrological Signs

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strology is one of those wonderful pseudo-sciences like naturopathy or cattle futures that anybody with an imagination can rapidly become an expert in. I have taken it upon myself to devise my own astrological symbols. If there is some question which sign you were born under, just ask a friend. I present them to you now.

OKRA—People born under the sign of Okra are slippery, smooth talkin’ and slick. Without self-restraint they can slide right over on their face. Okras make good molasses salesmen.

HOLSTEIN CROSSES—These folks start out slow, never look like much but, like the sure and steady tortoise, often finish first in the race, to everyone’s surprise! Feed bosses and second sons fall under this sign.

COYOTE—Never one to hide from responsibility, they run from it! You hear them, you find their tracks, but they’re seldom seen. They eat the crusty end piece offa’ loaf of bread, the fat offa’ ham and fried shrimp tails. You can find Coyotes migrating every fall from Wyoming ranches to Arizona feedlots.

FLASHING BEER SIGN—People found under this sign are steady, bright and occasionally incoherent. They gather wisdom and glow. Then they dispense it in a blinking neon blizzard. Often you will find nutritionist, veterinarians and economists in this category.

ARCADE SPACE INVADERS—A.S. Invaders are born self-assured. This confidence comes from always knowing what color of socks they have on and their current bank balance.

They have very little patience with Coyotes and Dice. A.S. Invaders make excellent bankers and wives.

DICE—As you might guess these people have a tendency to leap without looking, buy beachfront property in Saskatchewan and flip for the tab. However, as long as they’re winning we see them as glamorous. Most Dice feed cattle.

MT. RUSHMORE—Individuals born under this sign spend much time accumulating knowledge. They can be very helpful but tend to be idealistic in solving problems. “Rushes” make good county agents, graduate students and columnists.

CATTLE GUARDS—Usually strong, stubborn and level-headed, they get run over regularly by Space Invaders, Dice, Okra, Holstein Crosses, Coyotes, Rushes and Flashing Beer signs.

A large number of Cattle Guards wind up ranching.

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www.baxterblack.comBaxter .

how Congress will make the reductions in the $3.5 trillion package — such as by proportional cuts across the entire bill, or by picking favored programs for lighter treatment.

The bill as it stands proposes $40 billion for forestry, including forest thinning, watershed protection and reforestation, as well as $28 billion for conservation measures that reduce carbon emissions or help the soil absorb carbon on farms (E&E Daily, Sept. 27).

The agriculture provisions passed by the House Agriculture Committee would direct $18.7 billion to rural development, including $1 billion for biofuel infrastructure like improved pumps at gas stations.

And they include $7.5 billion for agricultural research (E&E Daily, Sept. 13).

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) said last week that it’s possible the agriculture spending will be scaled back along with other areas but added that lawmakers are generally supportive of those programs. “Everyone understands the needs on wildfires and sustainable forestry,” Stabenow told E&E News.

Groups like the League of Conservation Voters are urging Congress to spare farm programs. “Climate-smart agricultural investments are absolutely necessary to tackle the climate crisis. Agricultural conservation programs are consistently oversubscribed, and the Build Back Better Act is a huge opportunity for Congress to allow farmers and ranchers to be part of the climate solution,” said Madeleine Foote, deputy legislative director for the League of Conservation Voters, in a statement.

She added, “We are continuing to work to ensure Congress understands that these critical agricultural, conservation, and forestry investments must remain in the final deal in order to meet the climate test.”

While spending levels are one issue, the language in the bill is another. Supporters of more intensive forest thinning and similar projects have complained that the bill is tilted too far away from commercial timber harvesting — it spells out that thinning shouldn’t be for mainly commercial interests — and too heavily toward prescribed burning on federal land.

The National Association of State Foresters, generally in favor of more intensive forest management, supports the $40 billion spending level, a spokesperson said, but declined to comment on the policy provisions. And the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, which supports public lands conservation and farm bill programs, declined to comment at all on the bill.

One agriculture policy consultant, Ferd Hoefner, said he thinks farm bill programs may fare better than others. Agriculture and forestry together are less than 3 percent of the overall bill, and neither Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) nor Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) — who have pressed for a total bill closer to $1.5 trillion — is looking to cut such programs, Hoefner said. Even if cuts are made in a proportionally fair way, he said, agriculture would have a significant amount left.

“I don’t know, but I find reasons to be hopeful,” Hoefner said.

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Page 11

The View FROM THE BACK SIDE

Whhhoooo … Boy! (The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association or this publication.)

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ederal workers have the biggest chance right now, to become American heroes! They can send Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates packing by refusing to get them.

Can you believe the arrogance of Mr. Biden in telling 100 million people that they have to get a vaccine? All Biden had to do to look like a hero in this vaccine war was to simply ask the folks to get vaccinated. Joe Hitler just doesn’t cut it.

According to the US Constitution, which is going to be tested, I doubt he has a right to do this. This issue will be tested by the over 500 lawsuits already filed in federal courts as of this writing.

However, don’t expect federal workers to be heroes because they can never think for themselves. They are only good at doing what the federal government tells them to do. That’s why most are not earning a living in the private sector. They just simply cannot do it. After all they like their gravy jobs with good benefits, but nonetheless they have the chance to right a terrific wrong.

Perhaps federal workers will surprise us, but I doubt it. I am hoping there is at least one group of federal employees with courage. I know one thing, when I see the Forest Service guys riding around in their little green forest trucks with their masks on I will be laughing my butt off at the forest robots obeying orders.

I am not anti-vaccine. I am anti-bullying by a weak President trying to save face. The mask mandate is atrocious, not proven that it works, and I actually feel sorry for anyone being forced to wear one.

Regarding to suing the federal government and others over the vaccine mandates, unions such as the Teamsters and states such as Arizona are becoming allies against the common enemy. That does not happen very often. This is such a ridiculous situation that could have been solved with kindness and not power.

It’s obvious that the left side of politics has been exploiting the disease instead of just giving people the facts. The left certainly enjoys a crisis of any kind. The funny thing is that they won’t tell you is that most people get over Covid-19 and the death rate is still less than one percent in the United States.

This doesn’t mean that the disease shouldn’t be taken seriously, but is should not be exploited for political gain.

The other part of this equation is that Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Director of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease has been accused of lying to Congress by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky; claiming that the US did not fund gainof-function research.

New documents came to light recently about a study at the China Wuhan Lab that shows that the National Institute Of health granted $660,000 per year to research for five years for bat coronavirus.

Gain-Of-Function is a scientific term that means changing an organism to give it new functions to test a theory. Regarding human viruses, it might make the virus more transmissible to see whether or not it can survive.

Apparently when Dr. Fauci was testifying before Congress he denied this research existed. Kind of spooky stuff when you get down to it. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the end. It almost sounds like a US entity was funding a disease to make everyone sick. Let’s hope that we get to the bottom of this one before it’s too late.

Staying down on the farm or ranch has its advantages at times, especially during a pandemic or a wave of crazy government.

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Page 12

Livestock Market Digest

Feds Consider Re-Listing Wolf as State Hunts Start

BY ROB CHANEY / MONTANA STANDARD

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ray wolves in the West could go back under federal Endangered Species Act protection due to the risk of “potential increases in human-caused mortality,” the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) announced on in mid-September.

The decision to start a 12-month review of the wolf’s status came on the same day Montana and Idaho opened hunting and trapping seasons on the predator.

In its notice, FWS cited petitioners’ claims that “recent regulatory changes in Idaho and Montana may pose a threat to wolves in these states by expanding the means and methods of harvest such that the species may become threatened or endangered.”

FWS also “finds that new regulatory mechanisms in Idaho and Montana may be inadequate to address this threat” to wolves’ survival.

This spring, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed four bills liberalizing wolf killing, including measures removing limits of how many wolves a licensed hunter can kill; use of snares, spotlights and bait for hunting; and permission for private groups to reimburse wolf hunters for expenses.

In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little signed bills allowing wolf killing from motorized parachutes, ATVs or snowmobiles yearround without limits in much of the state, with the stated intention of reducing the population there by more than 90 percent.

“It’s not a matter of if but when a whole lot of wolves will

be killed,” said Sarah McMillan of WildEarth Guardians, one of the groups that successfully petitioned FWS for the status review. “We’re looking at losing 1,800 wolves in Montana and Idaho alone. We’re going back to the scary folklore days when wolves would kill our babies.

This resulting vendetta against wolves is not connected to anything real.”

McMillan was frustrated that FWS didn’t act faster to reconsider wolves’ status given the impending changes in hunting and trapping rules, she said. Rather than reinstating protections on an emergency basis, the service opted to take a year to study the situation and gather public comment.

WildEarth Guardians, Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society of the United

October 15, 2021 States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Sierra Club filed two separate petitions to FWS asking for the status review in the Rocky Mountain states and also throughout the West. McMillan said the larger scope stemmed from the fact that new wolf packs appearing in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado depended on dispersing wolves from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

Also in mid-September, a coalition of American Indian Tribes and organizations sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland invoking tribal sovereign treaty rights to consult with the federal government over wolf protections.

Montana has a wolf population of about 1,150, according to the latest state Fish, Wildlife & Parks annual wolf report.

Wolf hunting license sales have generated $4.4 million for wolf management and monitoring since 2009. Montana hunters and trappers killed 305 wolves in 2020.

PROTECT AMERICANS NOW Early in 2021 the President issued the 30x30 mandate — protection of 30 percent of the land and water in the US by 2030.

This mantra has been taken up world wide.

But it now is impacting America from east to west: Texas has 4,800 acres of new wildlife refugee courtesy of The Conservation Fund Trenton, New Jersey, is getting $2 million to make urban areas greener Boise, Idaho, is looking for $30 million to protect more open space New Mexico has its own 30x30 mandate issued by their governor Freedom lies in Will more land be created for these projects? NO. being bold.

—Robert Frost It is private property that will be converted to government ownership.

Federal Wildlife Services reported wolves killed 62 cattle, 32 sheep, 5 llamas and 4 livestock guard dogs in 2020.

Livestock depredations have declined from 233 in 2009 to an average of 100 or less between 2014 and 2019.

State or federal wardens killed 52 wolves in response to depredations in 2020, down from the average of 67 a year since wolves were delisted in 2011.

Senator Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls, authored some of the new Montana wolf rules, including a provision allowing private organizations or individuals to reimburse wolf hunters or trappers for their expenses.

“I kind of figured they were going to do some of that,” Brown said of the FWS status review. “That’s why we wrote the legislation the way we did — to be sure we didn’t fall below the minimum population requirements that might trigger relisting. I think they’ll find we won’t achieve that. I don’t believe we’ll ever get them (wolves) to the point they need to be re-listed.”

Former President Donald Trump’s move during his final days in office to delist gray wolves throughout the United States prompted a letter signed by 115 biologists to the Department of Interior warning that states were over-reaching in their campaigns to limit wolf numbers.

Increased pressure and liberal harvest tactics aimed at wolves might also affect the ESA status of grizzly bears, which can get caught in the same snares and bait sites, experts warned. That could derail parallel efforts to delist grizzly bears in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Senator Steve Daines, R-Montana, said he was confident the wolf is biologically recovered and Montana is capable of maintaining it.

“Gray wolf populations are thriving thanks to the strong state-led management of the species, and Montana has safeguards in place to ensure that continues to be the case,” Daines said shortly after the FWS announcement was released. “Activist environmental groups are diverting limited resources from protecting species that are actually endangered in an exercise that we know will be futile.”

But Collin O’Mara, president of the National Wildlife Federation, said that recent state management changes put that capability in doubt.

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