New Mexico Federal Lands Council News

by Frank Dubois

AUCLA study says our megadrought is the worst in 1200 years. They define a megadrought as a drought that lasts two decades or longer. The study found we are in the driest period since 800, surpassing the 1500s megadrought.

We have to look no farther than the Colorado River Basin and the seven states that signed the 100-year-old Colorado River Compact (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, California). Water managers from those states divvied up what they thought would be 15 million acre feet they could annually divert from the river. Since 2000 however, the river has only delivered an average of 12 million acre feet. The result has been a huge draw down of water from Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Those two reservoirs, which were full back then, now stand at one-third and onefourth of capacity. The question now is how are they going to allocate with 3 million acre feet less? Somebody is gonna get hurt.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with 21 other ag organizations have requested that EPA withdraw their proposed Waters of the United States regulation, citing jurisdictional issues and lack of stakeholder involvement. The Farm Bureau says, “We need rules that are clear and can be interpreted by farmers without spending thousands of dollars on legal fees. We had that with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The proposed new rule threatens to take us back to vague and complicated regulations that will keep farmers from growing the nation’s food while protecting the environment.”

Some of the concerns expressed in the letter are: Ї It will profoundly affect everyday farming and ranching activities through increased permitting requirements;

Ї Unclear rules could lead to potentially unlimited jurisdiction, including the unconstitutionally vague significant nexus test;

Ї The expansion of federal jurisdiction exceeds limitations set by Congress;

Ї The proposed rule exceeds the scope of the federal government’s authority

What this all boils down to is power. He who controls the water also controls the land. Will it be individuals and the states or will all this power be wielded by the feds.

The White House has announced a new initiative they call the Rural Partners Network. Its purpose is to “transform how the federal government partners with and delivers economic opportunity for rural communities across the United States” and

“bring the federal government to rural America.” They will accomplish this by putting USDA field staff in 25 different communities as a start. The White House says Congress has made billions of dollars available by first passing the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This gives you the opportunity to observe how the DC Deep Thinkers think.

The Congress has passed questionable laws and funded them with billions of dollars. but, these ignorant rubes in rural areas are just too dumb to know how to get it.

You fix that, they say, by placing new federal employees in the rural communities to assist. However, the programs are so mangled and wide spread that the field employees need help. I guess just being in rural communities and brushing up against rural citizens makes the new federal employees incapable of understanding the programs (can’t they wear a mask, get vaccinated or something to protect themselves from this pandemic of rural ignorance?).

You fix that by hiring new federal employees in DC who, of course, will be geniuses and know where every single federal dollar is located, and help shovel that dinero to rural areas.

You begin to see a pattern here: a) create a problem through misguided legislation or regulation b) fix the problem with a new approach which always involves more money and personnel c) when the fix doesn’t work you...well you get the picture.

You spend more and hire more with your eye on the election. You want to be reelected so you can – that’s right – spend more and hire more.

It is apparently working as the spend more-hire more types control the White

in the New Mexico Stockman. Call: 505/243-9515.

House and the House of Representatives, and they are tied for control of the Senate.

The opposition is made up of those who also want to spend and hire more, just not as much as the first group.

There you have the political system as designed by the DC Deep Thinkers as interpreted by a crippled old cowboy.

They put on their hog and pony show, commit fiscal cruelty, and so far, they are getting away with it.

One final thing. Remember that Obama was a community organizer. That is basically what these federal field employees will be. Be nice to the new federale in your community. They might be President someday.

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 ▫

Gordon Morris, Chairman of the Board/EVP

Colten Grau, Loan Officer Mac Langford, President/CCO

Like you, we at American Heritage Bank grew up in the ranching world and we’re proud of our heritage. We are true to your values, culture and lifestyle and our number one goal is to serve you. We’re honored to be your hometown bankers. We hope you’ll give us a chance to compete for your land and operating loans. Please give Colten Grau a call to arrange a visit. He’s working hard for our ag community and he’s eager to go to work for you!

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