The National Livestock Weekly November 21, 2005 • Vol. 85, No. 06 “The Industry’s Largest Weekly Circulation” www.wlj.net • E-mail:
[email protected] •
[email protected] •
[email protected] A Crow Publication Activists petition for grazing fee increase — Costs could lic lands to a price which would es- owe for grazing privileges. inate inefficient operators from the paid to the government is only a increase six-fold sentially end the practice. Anti- In their petition, the five groups western livestock industry, thereby small portion of what ranchers pay grazing activists are advocating an allege multiple grievances includ- improving opportunities for remain- to run cattle on public land. It does under plan. increase in the fee to force the fed- ing the degradation of stream beds ing ranchers to make a profit and not take into consideration addi- Public lands grazing is in danger eral grazing program to a position and water quality, damage to ripar- stabilizing the industry as a whole,” tional costs such as fencing and la- of becoming much more expensive. of revenue neutrality and, accord- ian areas, drop in water table in the petition said. bor which must be incurred by the Arecent report by the Government ing to the groups Center for Biolog- grazed areas, declines of wildlife Jeff Eisenberg, director of the rancher yet benefits the general Accountability Office (GAO) showed ical Diversity (CBD), Sagebrush due to being impaled or ensnared Public Lands Council of the Na- public as well as the rancher. a wide gap between the cost of ad- Sea Campaign, Forest Guardians, on fences or drowned in stock tanks, tional Cattlemen’s Beef Associa- He also noted the intrinsic val- ministering grazing permits and the Oregon Natural Desert Associ- diminished recreational value of tion, dismissed the group’s petition ue added to land which is grazed income derived from the programs.