Sage Signals
Voice of the Nevada Livestock Industry
September 2012
Volume XXXV, #11
INSIDE
Published monthly for its membership
Across the Kitchen
ABLE
✧ Across the Kitchen Table: Bell Ranch pages 1 – 3 ✧ Calendar page 2 ✧
SPECIAL Focus on the Drought Crisis
Woodie and Lilla with their grandchildren.
Governor’s Proclamation
Bell Ranch
page 7
Resources and
By Desiree Seal, Executive Director
Assistance
Thank you to all our supportive members. Nevada Cattlemen’s Association has greatly grown since 1935 and we couldn’t have done it without you. I hope you enjoyed reading our summer series of ranching families and members of NCA as much as I enjoyed getting to visit their places and learning about their operations.
pages 8-13 ✧ Market Reports pages 14-15 ✧ Beef Council Checkoff page 16 ✧ US Forest Service Planning Rule Violates Law page 17 ✧
M
y new favorite saying comes from the article “Fighting Hell With a Bucket” in Range Magazine featuring Miss Becky Terry. She lived her life by the words, Be interested. Be well informed. Believe in what you’re doing. And above all love agriculture. I think it’s safe to say, some of the best advocates for the industry live by this same saying without even knowing it. Representing the industry has become their life, their passion and tradition passed from generation to generation. The Bell Family is just one of the many such families in Nevada. Born and raised in the Santa Rosas to a mining family, Woodie wasted no time finding his passion, being a horseback and learning to cowboy. From the time he was a little boy in grade school until he was a young man entering college, Woodie rode with many of the most respected names in horsemanship. “I just wanted to ride,” Woodie tells me. And ride he did alongside his lifelong friends from buckaroo country of Nevada and the true horsemen of natural horsemanship methods in California. After many years of riding solo, Woodie met the love of his life, Miss Lilla Hunter at the Cow Palace
and would be married March of 1960. Lilla Hunter grew up just outside of Hollister, California on her family ranch, La Cienega del Gabilan. Producing commercial cattle with her family had taught Lilla very much about the cattle industry. But Lilla always had an instinct for something different and began raising purebred polled Herefords. “I had nobody to show me. I just loved it and did it on my own,” Lilla says with a soft laugh. “It was something I was interested in. You know, like a border collie, you got this instinct for something.” The young couples drive for “cowboying” and purebreds turned into a way of life. After the two were married, they would be blessed with three boys; Dean, John and Dan. Following their time in California and western Nevada as a young family, Woodie and Lilla eventually returned to Paradise Valley to purchased the Pasquale Ranch and make northern Nevada their home for good, raising commercial cattle and Lilla’s purebred herd. When visiting with families, it seems the rode CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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NEVADA
NEWS
2
Calendar September 1 All Consignments Open for NCA Fallon All Breed Bull Sale September 6-8 Public Lands Council Annual Meeting Winnemucca, Nevada
October 2-4 Nevada Cattlemen’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference Reno, Nevada
October 5 Teacher of the Year Nominations Due
November 8-10 Nevada Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting Carson City, Nevada
November 14-16 Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention and Trade Show Winnemucca, Nevada Winnemucca Convention Center
December 1 Entries close for NCA Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale January 7-11, 2013 Cattlemen’s Update
September 2012
Bell Ranch: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to a life of ranching is never easy. When I asked Woodie and Lilla if they have had any challenges or faced any big issues over the years, Woodie answered with, “Well, getting along’s been a big issue.” With a roll of her eyes, Lilla gave a subtle grin as Woodie smiled and kept visiting. “Same as every other rancher. Wildfire, some wild horses, and now sage hen. And I had some trouble with my family’s mining claim about 12 years ago.” Woodie went on to tell me about his run in with the federal government, different from many encounters ranchers have with Lilla and Woodie Bell agencies. Woodie’s family had held a mining claim due to his family’s ownership of Buckskin Mining Company on Buckskin Mountain on the Santa Rosas that had since been leased to other companies for extraction of minerals. After years of neglect, barrels of cyanide deteriorated and the U.S. Forest Service had insisted costs of clean-up were the responsibility of the Bell Family. Woodie fought the claim, publically, and eventually, U.S. Forest Service accepted responsibility of clean-up costs. Now an issue of the past, Woodie’s efforts to hold an agency accountable, were not a small thing during the time. And Lilla had her fair share of good deeds in the public eye. Not a large issue by her standard, Lilla explained to me her work on the Merging Committee of the American Hereford Association and American Polled Hereford Association. She served as Chair and was on the Board of the American Polled Hereford Association. The two associations had tried to join together in previous years and the merge was unsuccessful. There seemed to be a distinct separation in the two associations. One association, American Hereford Association, was larger operations, producing more commercial cattle. The other, American Polled Hereford Association, was smaller operations, mainly in the eastern part of the country. Lilla’s background raising her purebred polled Herefords on a commercial operation helped to find common ground for both associations and this time, the merge was a success. This small effort was only one of Lilla’s many contributions to the cattle ranching industry. She has served on committees and boards on local, state and national levels prior to the Merging Committee and following her work with the Association. As such, Woodie’s de-
Membership Update
We would like to thank the following people for joining or renewing their membership with Nevada Cattlemen’s Association between July 24 and Aug. 23, 2012. (New members are in bold.)
• Allflex USA, Annie Troutt • American Angus Association, Kurt Kangas • Dodge Ranch, Jack Spencer, Jr. • Giant Rubber Water Tanks, Ed Reilly • Kirby Mfg. Inc., Bruce Erickson • O P I, Ted Zimmerman
• Rosevear Quarter Horses, William Rosevear • UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, & Natural Resources, Ron Pardini • USDA APHIS WS, Jack Sengl • Vesco Ranch LLC, Vance Vesco • Western Feed Supplements, Kris Gudel
Official Publication of the February 16, 2013 NCA Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale Fallon, Nevada
Nevada Cattlemen’s Association P.O. Box 310, Elko, NV 89803‑310 wwnevadacattlemen.org
For more information on an event, please contact the NCA office.
J.J. Goicoechea President
Ron Torell President-Elect
•
•
775‑738‑9214
nca@nevadabeef.org Jon Griggs 1st Vice Pres.
Sam Mori 2nd Vice Pres.
September 2012
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NEVADA NEWS
Just like any other true ranch kid, the Bell Kids find many ways to have fun.
termination to hold a federal agency accountable was another “small” effort that did not go unnoticed. Not only did Woodie and Lilla’s passion and hard work benefit the cattle industry of today, but they have passed the same values and respect for ranching onto their sons and grandchildren. Their oldest son, Dean, lives in California managing La Cienega del Gabilan with his wife, Nikki and children Lilla and Dawson. John and his wife Jhona, have their own commercial operation in Paradise Valley with their sons, Trase, Quint and Cade. And Dan and his wife, Theresa, and children Shane and Carly, help on the ranch in Paradise Valley, and assist Lilla with her work with the purebreds. Each of the grandchildren was given a purebred as their beginning 4-H project by their grandmother and still all have their small herd. As we scroll through pictures
of the family on the computer, Lilla points out little Lilla and a horse she started at 10 years old. “They are really all good hands. Every one of them,” Lilla says of her grandchildren. And, as many of you may know, Shane received the NCA scholarship a few years back and now attends University of Wyoming with the goal of becoming a lawyer in hopes of defending the industry he grew up in. I would say, the small efforts of Woodie and Lilla have been passed down and their sons and grandchildren have only touched the surface of representing and advocating for the cattle industry. The family’s desire for ranching and their livelihood has been demonstrated by their efforts to know and understand the issues of ranching and serve as advocates for years past and many years to come.
Lilla’s registered Hereford cattle in one of the family’s pastures.
Please visit our Facebook page to see more photos from the Bell Ranch. Thank you to the Bell Family for the opportunity to showcase your ranch and your longtime support of the Association.
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September 2012
77th Joint Annual
CONVENTION TRADE SHOW and
November 14-16, 2012
|
Winnemucca Convention Center
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Pfizer Animal Health
SILVER SPONSOR
EXHIBITORS Nevada State Bank - Booth #1
Comstock Insurance Agency - Booth #13
Priefert - Booth #22
Allflex USA - Booth #3
Western Stockmen’s/Simplot Custom Feeding - Booth $14
Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health Booth #23
USDA APHIS WS - Booth #15
American Angus Association - Booth #24
Callicrate Banders – Booth #17
Pfizer Animal Health - Booth #25
Kirby Mfg., Inc. - #18
NV Energy – Booth #26
Pinenut Livestock Supply – Booth #19
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. - Booth #27
American AgCredit, ACA – Booth #20
Western Feed Supplements - Booth #28
Cooperative Extension - Booth #4 Integrated Biological Systems, Inc. - Booth #6 USDA-NASS - Booth #7 Moly Mfg.,Inc./SILENCER - Booth #8 Giant Rubber Water Tanks - Booth #9 Nevada Section SRM - Booth # 11
Pro Group Management – Booth #21
Thank You To our Dedicated Supporters who have Committed to this Year’s Annual Nevada Cattlemen’s Convention!
Hope to see you there!
September 2012
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Upcoming Sales FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12TH Cottonwood, CA
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND Cottonwood, CA
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH Silver Legacy, Reno, NV
WATCH & LISTEN TO THE SALE ON THE WEB AT:
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NEVADA
DROUGHT
NEWS
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September 2012
Sage Signals
September 2012
DROUGHT NEWS
(RENO, NEVADA) Aug. 23, 2012—Secretary Tom Vilsack announced another helpful change in August, this one made by the Risk Management Agency (RMA), that livestock producers especially should appreciate. For the 2012 crop year, RMA intends to allow haying and grazing of cover crops without affecting the insurability of planted 2013 spring crops. This means farmers and ranchers can plant a cover crop without foregoing crop insurance coverage in 2013, thus giving producers another opportunity to grow needed forage and feed for this fall and winter. A second change announced during the Secretary’s weekly update of the drought crisis of 2012 was the commitment from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to change the emergency loan program so that farmers and ranchers are eligible to apply earlier in the disaster recovery process. Previous to this change, emergency loan eligibility was based on crop losses that were determined after the production cycle; loan amounts were based on production during normal years. With these changes, producers no longer are required to wait until the end of the production cycle to obtain a loan. That means livestock producers needing assistance today to offset increased feed costs don’t have to wait. However, before making any plans to plant crop cover, producers should consult with their insurance agent, according to RMA. In the USDA news release issued Aug. 22, 2012, Secretary Vilsack announced that so far in 2012 he had designated 1,821 counties as disaster areas in 35 states. Of those, 1,692 were because of drought. For a review of the entire news release, go to http://www.usda. gov, click on Newsroom and look for Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Help for Livestock Producers with Changes to Emergency Loans, Crop Insurance.
DIRT (ISN’T) CHEAP
Contact us about a leasing program tailored to your needs. Call 800.800.4865 today or visit AgLoan.com
RENO (775) 825-7282 ELKO (775) 738-8496 FALLON (775) 423-3136
FALLON Livestock Exchange, Inc. SALE EVERY TUESDAY AT 11:00 A.M.
Selling All Classes of Livestock
Cattle • Horses • Goats • Pigs Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc., has the newest and most modern livestock auction in Nevada with ringscales. Our steel pens are clean, with fresh deep well water (no city water!) and we feed fresh alfalfa hay in each pen!
Where we sort, size, and class your livestock so buyers will pay the Top of the Market that day! For more marketing information, or to CONSIGN our livestock, call MONTE BRUCK, Manager at (775) 867-2020
NEVADA
USDA Changes Help Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by Drought
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Where Fallon Livestock Exchange Works For You… “The Consignor” Each and Every Day!
See you and your friends at Ringside every Tuesday!
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Sage Signals
September 2012
Drought Assistance A note from Nevada Cattlemen’s Association: Please read the provided overview of drought assistance prepared by USDA. Following, are fact sheets further explaining programs widely used in Nevada. Be aware, as of September 2011, these programs are expired. As Congress reconvenes in September 2012, we will be working with delegates to encourage that these programs be extended from Farm Bill 2008 until a current Farm Bill is passed. We encourage you to contact your FSA office as soon as possible as about your interest in these programs.
USDA Current Drought Resources and Information Updated August 24, 2012 Please note: Information on the current drought is updated frequently. A large collection of up-to- date information, including fact sheets for producers, is maintained publicly at USDA’s Drought Page (http://www.usda.gov/drought). All interested stakeholders are encouraged to check the web site often. You can always turn to www.usda.gov/drought for up-to-date information.
Continuing Administration Efforts to Provide Drought Relief President Obama and Secretary Vilsack are committed to taking every possible step to help farmers and ranchers recover when disaster strikes. Our thoughts are with U.S. farmers and ranchers across the United States during a time of significant drought. On Wednesday, August 22, USDA designated 33 additional counties in 8 states as primary natural disaster areas – 23 due to drought – making all qualified farm operators in the areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans. In the past six weeks, USDA has designated 1,821 counties in 35 states as disaster areas—1,692 due to drought. Additionally on August 22, USDA announced it will file special provisions with the federal crop insurance program to allow haying or grazing of cover crops without impacting the insurability of planted 2013 spring crops, a move that can help provide much needed forage and feed this fall and winter for livestock producers. In a separate step, USDA will modify emergency loans, allowing loans to be made earlier in the season helping livestock producers to offset increased feed costs and those who have liquidated herds. You can read more about these actions here: http://usda. gov/w ps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/08/0282. xml&navid=NEWS_RELEASE&navtype=RT&parentnav=LATE ST_RELEASES&edeployment_action=retrievecontent. President Obama has convened the White House Rural Council for a continuing series of policy meetings to review Executive Branch response actions and to develop additional policy initiatives to assist drought-stricken Americans. Over the course of the drought USDA has taken a wide variety of additional measures to help: ǸǸ Making available up to $5 million in grants to evaluate and demonstrate agricultural practices that help farmers and ranchers adapt to drought. NRCS is taking applications for Conservation Innovation Grants to help producers build additional resiliency into their production systems. ǸǸ Signaling intent to purchase up to $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken, and catfish for federal food nutrition assistance programs, including food banks, which will help relieve pressure on American livestock producers and bring the nation’s meat supply in line with demand.
ǸǸ Utilizing nearly $16 million in financial and technical assistance funding under the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to help crop and livestock producers in 19 states cope with the adverse impacts of the historic drought. ǸǸ Initiating a transfer of $14 million in unobligated program funds into the Emergency Conservation Program. These funds can be used to assist in moving water to livestock in need and rehabilitating lands severely impacted by the drought. ǸǸ Allowing additional acres under CRP to be used for emergency haying or grazing. The action allows lands that are not yet classified as “under severe drought” but that are “abnormally dry” to be used for haying and grazing. ǸǸ Allowing producers to modify current Environmental Quality Incentives Program contracts to allow for grazing, livestock watering, and other conservation activities to address drought conditions. ǸǸ Authorizing haying and grazing of Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easement areas in drought-affected areas where haying and grazing is consistent with conservation of wildlife habitat and wetlands. USDA has expedited its authorization process for this haying and grazing. ǸǸ Encouraging crop insurance companies to provide a short grace period for farmers on unpaid insurance premiums, as some farming families can be expected to struggle to make ends meet at the close of the crop year. (Secretary Vilsack announced on August 1 that crop insurance companies have agreed to provide a short grace period for farmers on insurance premiums in 2012.) ǸǸ Reducing the emergency loan interest rate from 3.75 percent to 2.25 percent. ǸǸ Lowering the reduction in the annual rental payment to producers on CRP acres used for emergency haying or grazing from 25 percent to 10 percent in 2012.
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September 2012
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DROUGHT
Overview of Actions by Federal Agencies to Respond to Drought Administrative Changes to Speed Emergency Loans: USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will make changes to the emergency loan program that will help producers obtain the loans earlier in the season. Previous to this change, emergency loan eligibility was based on crop losses that were determined after the production cycle; loan amounts were based on production during normal years. With these changes, producers no longer are required to wait until the end of the production cycle to obtain a loan, benefiting livestock producers who need assistance today to help offset increased feed costs, as well as producers liquidating herds as a result of the drought. Conservation Innovation Grants: USDA announced the availability of up to $5 million in grants to evaluate and demonstrate agricultural practices that help farmers and ranchers adapt to drought. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is taking applications for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to help producers build additional resiliency into their production systems. NRCS is offering the grants to partnering entities to evaluate innovative, field-based conservation technologies and approaches. These technologies and/or approaches should lead to improvements such as enhancing the water-holding capacity in soils and installing drought-tolerant grazing systems. Additional Emergency Funding to Assist Livestock and Crop Producers: To assist producers facing extreme drought conditions, USDA announced that it will utilize nearly $16 million in financial and technical assistance to immediately help crop and livestock producers in 19 states cope with the adverse impacts of the historic drought. In addition, USDA will initiate a transfer of $14 million in unobligated program funds into the Emergency Conservation Program. These funds can be used to assist in moving water to livestock in need and rehabilitating lands severely impacted by the drought. Together these efforts should provide nearly $30 million to producers struggling with drought conditions. Administrative Changes to Speed Emergency Loans: USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will make changes to the emergency loan program that will help producers obtain the loans earlier in the season. Previous to this change, emergency loan eligibility was based on crop losses that were determined after the production cycle; loan amounts were based on production during normal years. With these changes, producers no longer are required to wait until
the end of the production cycle to obtain a loan, benefiting livestock producers who need assistance today to help offset increased feed costs, as well as producers liquidating herds as a result of the drought. Reduction of USDA’s Emergency (EM) Loan Rate. Emergency Loans will help producers recover from production and physical losses associated with natural disasters. The current rate was set in 1993 at 3.75 percent. Effective July 15, the Administration lowered the interest rate on loans, effectively lowering the rate from 3.75 percent down to 2.25 percent. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Grazing on Federal Lands: The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service are providing relief to ranchers who graze on public lands by employing flexibility to accommodate needs and conditions on the ground. BLM will issue refunds to cattlemen that were displaced by early season fires and therefore not able to make use of their allotments and the Forest Service has liberally granted Permittee requested non-use. Both agencies are making vacant land available for grazing and allowing for: changes in grazing use, including delayed or early turnout if conditions allow; increased salting to improve livestock distribution; water hauling and temporary portable water troughs; and other measures.
Watering
“
the
West” Office: (775) 738-2677 Fax: (775) 738-2367
Indian Creek Ranch On the Elko/White Pine County line Total of 206 deeded acres of which 126 sit at the foot of the mountain with a large spring with certificated and permitted water rights.
If you have friends or family looking for a country retreat where you could lease some pasture, let them know about this one!
Price recently reduced to $325,000 or the 126 acres for $275,000.
Bottari & Associates Realty Paul Bottari, Broker 775-752-3040
www.bosstanks.com 7861 E. Idaho St. • P.O. Box 70 Elko, NV 89803
RESOURCES
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
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September 2012
Emergency Conservation Program Overview USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and for carrying out emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought. Funding for ECP is appropriated by Congress. Program Administration ECP is administered by state and county FSA committees. Subject to availability of funds, locally-elected county committees are authorized to implement ECP for all disasters except drought, which is authorized at the national office of FSA. Land Eligibility County FSA committees determine land eligibility based on onsite inspections of damage, taking into account the type and extent of damage. For land to be eligible, the natural disaster must create new conservation problems that, if untreated, would:
Payments ECP program participants receive cost-share assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost to implement approved emergency conservation practices, as determined by county FSA committees. Individual or cumulative requests for cost-sharing of $50,000 or less per person, per disaster are approved at the county committee level. Cost-sharing from $50,001 to $100,000 is approved at the state committee level. Cost-sharing over $100,000 must be approved by FSA’s national office. Technical assistance may be provided by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Emergency Conservation Practices To rehabilitate farmland, ECP program participants may implement emergency conservation practices, such as: • remove debris; • restore fences and conservation structures; and • provide water for livestock in drought situations.
• impair or endanger the land; • materially affect the land’s productive capacity; • represent unusual damage which, except for wind erosion, is not the type likely to recur frequently in the same area; and • be so costly to repair that Federal assistance is or will be required to return the land to productive agricultural use. Conservation problems existing prior to the applicable disaster are ineligible for ECP assistance.
Other conservation measures may be authorized by county FSA committees, with approval from state FSA committees and FSA’s national office. Sign-up Periods Producers should check with their local county FSA offices regarding ECP sign-up periods, which are set by county FSA committees. For More Information More information on ECP is available at FSA offices and on FSA’s Web site at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov
RECOVERY REDUCES SODIUM IN SOIL! NEVADA RESULTS June 2009
April 2011
Difference
Field 1:
1,208 lbs sodium
472 lbs sodium
61% lower!
Field 2:
1,452 lbs sodium
758 lbs sodium
52% lower!
Field 3:
2,884 lbs sodium
1,106 lbs sodium
62% lower!
Field 4:
814 lbs sodium
338 lbs sodium
59% lower!
Recovery soil treatment used at ½ gallon per acre for 2 years in a row at a cost of $34.00/acre each treatment. Injected through pivots.
Integrated Biological Systems Incorporated P.O. Box 554, Nampa, Idaho 83653-0554
Website: intbiosysinc.com
Cell phone: Marvin Miller (208) 250-6318
25 y e
ars in
bus ines s
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September 2012
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FACT SHEET Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Overview The “Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008” authorized the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) to provide benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather that occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011, including losses because of hurricanes, floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat, and extreme cold. The livestock death losses must also have occurred in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested. LIP provisions are similar to other livestock indemnity programs implemented by FSA in recent years except that an owner or contract grower’s livestock do not have to be located in a county or contiguous county designated a natural disaster by the president or declared by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Under the current LIP, an owner or contract grower’s livestock payments will be based on individual producers’ losses. Eligible Livestock Owners To be eligible for LIP, a livestock producer must have legally owned the eligible livestock on the day the livestock died. Owners of the following types of livestock may be eligible for LIP: Cattle
Poultry
Swine
Chickens, Broilers, Pullets
Swine, Feeder Pigs Under 50 Pounds
Adult Beef Cows
Chickens, Chicks
Swine, Deer Sows, Boars, Barrows and Gilts 50 to 150 Pounds
Adult Buffalo or Beefalo Bulls
Chickens, Swine, Elk Layers, Roasters Sows, Boars, Barrows and Gilts 151 to 450 Pounds
Adult Buffalo or Beefalo Cows
Ducks
Adult Dairy Bulls
Ducks, Ducklings
Adult Beef Bulls
Swine, Sows, Boars over 450 Pounds
Other Alpacas
Emus
Equine
Adult Dairy Cows Geese, Goose
Goats, Bucks
Non-Adult Beef Cattle
Geese, Goslings
Goats, Nannies
Non-Adult Buffalo/Beefalo
Turkeys, Poults
Goats, Slaughter Goats/Kids
Cattle
Poultry
Non-Adult Dairy Cattle
Turkeys, Toms, Fryers and Roasters
Swine
Other Llamas
Reindeer Sheep, Ewes Sheep, Lambs Sheep, Rams
To be eligible for LIP, an owner’s livestock must: • Have died as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event occurring: 1. On or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011; and, 2. No later than 60 calendar days from the ending date of the applicable adverse weather event; and, 3. In the calendar year for which benefits are requested. • Have been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the day they died and; • Not have been produced for reasons other than commercial use as part of a farming operation. Excluded livestock includes wild free roaming animals, pets or animals used for recreational purposes, such as hunting, roping or for show. Eligible Livestock Contract Growers To be eligible for LIP, a contract grower must have had the following on the day the livestock died: • Possession and control of the eligible livestock and; • A written agreement with the eligible livestock owner setting the specific terms, conditions and obligations of the parties involved regarding the production of livestock. To be eligible for LIP, a contract grower’s livestock also must have met the following conditions. The livestock must: • Have been poultry or swine; • Have died as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event occurring; 1. On or after Jan. 1, 2008, and before Oct. 1, 2011; and, 2. No later than 60 calendar days from the ending date of the applicable adverse weather event; and, 3. In the calendar year for which benefits are requested. • Have been maintained for commercial use as part of a farming operation on the day they died and; • Not have been produced • for reasons other than for commercial use as part of a farming operation. This includes wild free roaming animals, pets or animals used for recreational purposes, such as hunting or for show. Payments USDA calculates LIP payments by multiplying the national payment rate for each livestock category by the number of eligible livestock in each category. National payment rates are found at the
RESOURCES
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARM SERVICE AGENCY March 2011
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Sage Signals end of this fact sheet. USDA bases the LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock owners on 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock. USDA bases the LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock contract growers on 75 percent of the average income loss sustained by the contract grower with respect to the dead livestock. USDA will reduce a contract grower’s LIP payment by the amount of monetary compensation received from their contractor for the loss of income suffered from the death of livestock under contract. For the 2008 program year, no person as defined and determined under the provisions in 7 CFR Part 1400 in effect for 2008, may receive more than $100,000 total in payments under LIP, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and FarmRaised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program, combined. For 2009 and subsequent program years, no person or legal entity, excluding a joint venture or general partnership, may receive directly or indirectly, more than $100,000 total in payments under LIP, ELAP, LFP and SURE, combined. Also, in applying the limitation on average adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2008, an individual or entity is ineligible for payment under LIP if the individual’s or entity’s average adjusted gross income exceeds $2.5 million for 2007, 2006, and 2005 under the provisions in 7 CFR part 1400 in effect for 2008 unless 75 percent or more of their income was from farming, ranching or forestry. For 2009 through 2011, the average AGI limitation relating to limits on payments for persons or legal entities, excluding joint ventures and general partnerships, with certain levels of average adjusted gross income (AGI) will apply. Specifically, for 2009 through 2011, a person or legal entity with an average adjusted gross nonfarm income, as defined in 7 CFR Part 1404.3 that exceeds $500,000 will not be eligible to receive LIP payments. Direct
September 2012
attribution provisions also apply to LIP for 2009 and subsequent years. Under direct attribution, any payment to a legal entity also will be considered for payment limitation purposes to be a payment to a persons or legal entity with an interest in the legal entity or in a sub-entity. Sign-up Producers may apply to receive LIP benefits at local FSA service centers. Applying for LIP Producers who suffer livestock death losses should submit a notice of loss and an application for payment to the local FSA service center that maintains the farm records for their business. To be eligible, the notice of loss must be submitted the earlier of: • 30 calendar days • of when the loss of livestock was apparent to the producer; • 30 calendar days after • the end of the calendar year in which the loss of livestock occurred To be eligible, applications for payment must be submitted no later than either of the following: • 30 calendar days after • the end of the calendar year in which the loss of livestock occurred; • September 1, 2009, • for livestock losses that occurred during calendar year 2008. The following table provides the final dates to file a notice of loss and application for payment for either 2008 or 2009 livestock losses. Date of Livestock Death
Final Date to File Notice of Loss
Final Date to Submit an Application for Payment
Calendar Year 2008
Sept. 1, 2009
Sept. 1, 2009
Jan. 1, 2009 to July 12, 2009
Sept. 1, 2009
Feb. 1, 2010
July 13, 2009 to Dec. 30 days after death is 31, 2009 apparent
Feb. 1, 2010
The producer must include a copy of the grower contract if he/she is a contract grower and any other supporting documents required for determining eligibility. Supporting documents must show evidence of loss, current physical location of livestock in inventory and location of the livestock at the time of death. Payments may be made for eligible losses suffered by an eligible producer who is now deceased or for a dissolved entity if a currently authorized representative signs the application for payment. Proof of authority to sign for a deceased individual or dissolved entity must be provided. If a producer is a dissolved entity, all former members at the time of dissolution or their duly authorized representative(s) must sign the application for payment. Applicants must provide adequate proof that the eligible livestock deaths occurred as a direct result of an eligible adverse weather event in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested. The quantity and kind of livestock that died as a direct result of the eligible disaster event may be documented by purchase records, veterinarian records, bank or other loan documents, rendering truck receipts or certificates, Federal Emergency Management Agency records, National Guard records, written contracts, production records, records assembled for tax purposes, property tax records, private insurance documents and similar documents. If adequate verifiable proof of death records documentation is not available, FSA will accept reliable records in conjunction with verifiable beginning and ending inventory records as proof of death. Reliable records may include, but are not limited to, contemporaneous producer records existing at the time of the adverse
September 2012
Sage Signals 2. Their affiliation with the livestock owner and; 3. The accuracy of the deaths claimed by the livestock owner.
National Payment Rates Please see the table for LIP per head payment rates by livestock category for eligible owners at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/ FSA_File/lip2011_158c020211.pdf Please see the table which provides per head payment rates by livestock category for eligible livestock contract growers at: http:// www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/lip2011_158c020211.pdf
FACT SHEET UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARM SERVICE AGENCY July 2012
Emergency Loan Program Overview USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters or quarantine. Loan Uses Emergency loan funds may be used to: • Restore or replace essential property; • Pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year; • Pay essential family living expenses; • Reorganize the farming operation and; • Refinance certain debts. Eligibility Emergency loans may be made to farmers and ranchers who: • Own or operate land located in a county declared by the President or designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as a primary disaster area or quarantine area. All counties contiguous to the declared, designated, or quarantined primary counties also are eligible for emergency loans. A disaster designation by the FSA administrator authorizes emergency loan assistance for physical losses only in the designated and contiguous counties; • Are established family farm operators and have sufficient farming or ranching experience; • Are citizens or permanent residents of the United States; • Have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in crop production or a physical loss to livestock, livestock products, real estate or chattel property; • Have an acceptable credit history; • Are unable to receive credit from commercial sources; • Can provide collateral to secure the loan and; • Have repayment ability.
Loan Requirements FSA loan requirements are different from those of other lenders. Some of the more significant differences are the following: • Borrowers must keep acceptable farm records; • Borrowers must operate in accordance with a farm plan they develop and agree to with local FSA staff and; • Borrowers may be required to participate in a financial management training program and obtain crop insurance. Collateral is Required All emergency loans must be fully collateralized. The specific type of collateral may vary depending on the loan purpose, repayment ability and the individual circumstances of the applicant. If applicants cannot provide adequate collateral, their repayment ability may be considered as collateral to secure the loan. A first lien is required on property or products acquired, produced or refinanced with loan funds. Loan Limit Producers can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses, to a maximum amount of $500,000. Loan Terms Loans for crop, livestock, and non-real estate losses are normally repaid within one to seven years, depending on the loan purpose, repayment ability and collateral available as loan security. In special circumstances, terms of up to 20 years may be authorized. Loans for physical losses to real estate are normally repaid within 30 years. In certain circumstances, repayment may be made over a maximum of 40 years. Interest Rate The current annual interest rate for emergency loans is 2.25 percent. Application Deadline Applications for emergency loans must be received within eight months of the county’s disaster or quarantine designation date.
RESOURCES
FSA will use data furnished by the applicant to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, without all required data program benefits will not be approved or provided.
DROUGHT
weather event, pictures(s) with a date, brand inspection records, dairy herd improvement records and other similar reliable documents. FSA will accept certifications of livestock deaths by third parties on Form FSA-926 if the following conditions are met: • The livestock owner or livestock contract grower, as applicable, certifies in writing: 1. That there is no other documentation of death available; 2. The number of livestock in inventory at the time of the adverse weather event. • The third party provides • their telephone number, address and a written statement containing: 1. Specific details about their knowledge of the livestock deaths;
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Sage Signals
MARKET
REPORTS
14
September 2012 Nevada Livestock Marketing August 15 , 2012
Western Video Market — Price Report August 6, 2012 CONSIGNOR BAKER RANCHES
HEAD COUNT 180 Steers
WT 850
PRICE $140.25
BAKER RANCHES
120 Heifers 53/20 Weaned Steers/W
800
$135.50
JOHNSON LIVESTOCK
QUARTER CIRCLE CROSS 52/18 Steers/Heifers CA DIAMOND CATTLE CO., LLC 117 Weaned Steers
Regular Butcher Cow and Feeder Sale #Head
Type
Weight
Price CWT
Badger Ranch
5/5
Cow/Calf
1218
$1,130.00/hd
690/630 $139.50 $129.50
Badger Ranch
7/7
Cow/Calf
1294
$1,090.00/hd
Sun Touch Solar
1
STR
425
$165.00
720/680 $124.00 $117.00
Windy R Ranch
2
STR
420
$143.00
$210.00
Jake Casey
1
STR
713
$130.00
410
Seller
DIAMOND CATTLE CO., LLC
213 Weaned Steers
470
$189.50
Hunewill Land & Livestock
2
STR
745
$110.00
DIAMOND CATTLE CO., LLC
240 Weaned Heifers
410
$182.00
John & Glorene Guerrero
4
HFR
481
$138.00
92 Heifer Calves 50/40 Weaned Steers/W
530
$143.50
Laura Shepard
2
HFR
570
$132.00
Flint Lee
2
HFR
580
$121.00
Alan & Lillian Mendes
9
HFR
808
$110.00
Grace & Joe Ricci
1
HFRTT
1230
$90.00
Grace & Joe Ricci
1
COW
1890
$74.00
Foster Ranch LTD Partnership
1
HFRTT
1215
$85.00
Foster Ranch LTD Partnership
1
COW
1345
$82.00
Grass Valley Ranch
1
HFRTT
1415
$82.00
Grass Valley Ranch
1
COW
1315
$76.75
Badger Ranch
1
COW
1120
$80.75
Badger Ranch
1
COW
1210
$77.25
Barrick Cortez Hay Ranch
1
COW
1315
$78.75
Barrick Cortez Hay Ranch
1
COW
1635
$77.75
Harriman and Son
1
COW
1630
$77.00
Harriman and Son
1
COW
950
$76.50
LAZY JN RANCH STEVE & LINDA MCDERMOTT
525/475 $159.00 $147.00
Raising Registered Herefords since 1979 with the commercial herd in mind. TOP PERFORMANCE BULLS AT CATTLEMEN’S PRICES!
Austin and Fallon
(775) 427-8199
lee@hutchensherefords.com
www.hutchensherefords.com
OFFICE: 775-423-7760 JACK PAYNE
Cell: 775-217-9273 Alt: 775-225-8889
Email: nevadalm@yahoo.com
Full-Service Cattle Sales & Marketing serving the Fallon, Nevada and Outlying Areas.
REGULAR SALE Every Wednesday Small Barn at 10:30 AM Cows at 11:30 AM Feeder Cattle at 1:00 PM
We have four cattle trains available for your cattle hauling needs. We can haul approx. 80,000# of cattle per load either to our sale or in the country. Give us a call for pricing.
SALES
CAFÉ
Open on Sale Days
Feeder Sale in conjunction with our Regular Wednesday sale
Stop by and have a Homestyle Burger
September 19,th 2012
THANK YOU
ONE DAY ONLY
TO ALL OF OUR
Feeder Cattle begin at 1:00 p.m.
CONSIGNORS & BUYERS
For more information please contact our office or check our website www.nevadalivestock.us
We really appreciate the opportunity to market your cattle.
Look for Weekly Market Reports at www.nevadalivestock.us
Sage Signals
September 2012
15 Shasta Livestock (530) 347-3793 August 10, 2012
Regular Butcher Cow and Feeder Sale
Kevin Devine E-mail-wvm@wvmcattle.com Website-www.wvmcattle.com
Seller
Type
Weight
Price CWT
1
COW
1325
$75.00
Warren Scoppettone
1
COW
1480
$76.25
Warren Scoppettone
1
COW
1345
$73.50
Judith Byler
1
COW
1560
$75.75
Michael & Claudia Casey
1
COW
1230
$75.25
Michael & Claudia Casey
1
COW
1385
$75.00
Deanna Porter
1
COW
1050
$74.25
Jake Casey
1
COW
1545
$72.75
Alan & Lillian Mendes
1
COW
910
$70.00
Alan & Lillian Mendes
1
COW
745
$66.50
Sun Touch Solar
1
COW
1000
$66.00
Breaker Cows
70.00-77.00
Hillside Dairy
1
HFRTT
1015
$81.00
Boner Cows
65.00-69.00
Whitaker Dairy
1
COW
1230
$71.00
Cutter Cows
55.00-63.00
Whitaker Dairy
1
COW
1830
$68.75
Whitaker Dairy
1
COW
1500
$67.00
Bulls 1 & 2 High Dress
Lori Johnson
1
COW
1800
$69.25
Mateo Muniz
1
HFRTT
1560
$68.00
Oasis Dairy LLC
1
COW
1515
$67.00
Oasis Dairy LLC
1
COW
1475
$65.00
Phil Regli
1
COW
1045
$64.75
Laura Shepard
1
BULL
770
$92.50
Barrick Cortez Hay Ranch
1
BULL
1905
$88.75
Foster Ranch LTD Partnership
1
BULL
1710
$86.75
Foster Ranch LTD Partnership
1
BULL
1730
$85.25
Michael & Claudia Casey
1
BULL
1445
$86.50
Ken & Beverly Conley
1
BULL
1750
$86.25
Shawn & Mindy Goemmer
1
BULL
1995
$85.25
Shawn & Mindy Goemmer
1
BULL
1760
Jake Casey
1
BULL
1725
Salvador Galindo
1
BULL
2210
Weight/Type
Steer/Bull Price xxxx-xxxx
xxxx-xxxx
400-450 lb.
164.00-169.00 (few)
xxxx-xxxx
450-500 lb.
xxxx-xxxx
xxxx-xxxx
500-550 lb.
xxxx-xxxx
xxxx-xxxx
550-600 lb.
132.00-138.00
130.00-135.00
600-650 lb.
127.00-139.00
125.00-134.25
650-700 lb.
127.00-138.25
120.00-129.00
700-750 lb.
xxxx-132.50 (1 lot)
120.00-130.50
750-800 lb.
125.00-136.50
118.00-126.75
800-900 lb.
120.00-131.50
115.00-124.00
65.00-90.00 Pairs: No Market Test Calvy Cows: No market test.
Superior Livestock Auction Region 1-ID, OR, CA, NV August 16, 2012 Cattle Type Steers
Website-www.superiorlivestock.com Weight Range Price 450-450 203.00-203.00 520-525
179.00-182.50
575-575
158.00-159.50
600-640
143.00-167.00
650-675
139.00-154.50
770-775
142.00-146.00
$85.00
800-800
134.50-134.50
$82.75
890-890
133.00-133.00
$82.50
950-950
119.00-119.00
Holsteins
310-310
120.00-120.00
Heifers
450-490
153.50-174.00
500-525
153.00-159.00
550-575
155.00-155.50
600-625
136.00-156.00
730-740
135.00-140.00
800-800
131.00-134.00
850-850
130.50-130.50
Grass Valley Ranch
1
BULL
1590
$81.00
David Holmgren
1
BULL
620
$78.50
Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc. (775) 867-2020 August 7, 2012 Sale Every Tuesday 11:00 am Weight/Type
Steer/Bull Price
Heifer/Cow Price
300-400
139.50-176.00
131.75-149.00
400-500
138.00-161.00
129.00-143.00
500-600
138.00-159.00
115.00-127.00
600-700
133.00-151.00
119.00-121.00
700-800
126.00-136.00
95.00-106.00
800 & Over
107.00-119.00
100.00-110.00
Breaker Cows - Fat
65.00-68.00
Boner Cows - Medium
72.00-83.00
Cutter Cows - Lean
56.00-68.00
Feeder Cows
Heifer/Cow Price
300-400 lb.
2213 North Fifth Street, Suite A Elko, NV 89801-2458 775-738-8811 or 800-343-0077 Fax 775-738-0189 www.edwardjones.com
65.00-75.00
Butcher Bulls
78.00-85.50
Cutting Bulls
80.00-95.00
JASON B. LAND
Financial Advisor - AAMS
L.F. “SONNY” DAVIDSON Financial Advisor - AAMS
REPORTS
#Head
Harriman and Son
MARKET
Nevada Livestock Marketing August 15 , 2012
16
Sage Signals
September 2012
Checking-In On Your Beef Checkoff Nevada Beef Council Seeks Educational Activities Coordinator The Nevada Beef Council (NBC) currently has an opening for an Educational Activities Coordinator. This part-time, contract position coordinates the NBC’s state outreach efforts at the producer, consumer and K-12 educational levels. The duties encompass a wide range of responsibilities, including representing the NBC at consumer and producer events; attending fairs and Ag in the Classroom activities; and networking with state association and beef council staff. For more information regarding this position, contact Bill Dale, NBC executive director, at (877) 554-2333, or email your resume and references to askus@nevadabeef.org. For information about the NBC, visit www.nevadabeef.org.
Beefing Up Resources for Retailers In July, the checkoff launched a refreshed version of BeefRetail. org that makes it easier than ever for retailers to access information to support strong beef sales from their meat cases. The enhanced functions and new features are the culmination of a nine-month overhaul that incorporates business-to-business best practices for website marketing and responds to feedback from retail leaders and a review of web metrics. The checkoff leverages the site with key retailers, suppliers and other channel marketers across the country, to provide market intelligence, shopper insights, merchandising programs and more. The site helps stimulate retail beef sales and build long-term consumer beef demand.
Encouraging More Beef on More Menus In partnership with Jack in the Box, the checkoff led a “Beef 101” training session to educate the chain’s R&D, procurement and marketing departments about beef checkoff-funded programs and resources and to spark interest in adding more beef to Jack in the Box menus. Topics addressed through the training included current beef flavor trends, research and development of new beef cuts, and modern beef production. Based on the positive response from participants, the checkoff will look at holding similar training sessions with other leading foodservice operations. For more, visit BeefFoodservice.com.
Building Beef Sales at Restaurant Chains The checkoff helped introduce two new beef items in cooperative promotions with two foodservice operators in recent months. In cooperating with the checkoff, Homestyle Dining launched a new steak item – a half-pound Flame-Grilled NY Strip Steak – in 170 Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses across 20 states – originally
as a limited-time offer this spring. But the steak generated an average of nearly 5 percent of the sales per restaurant during the promotion, so the chain extended the NY Strip Steak to its regular menu, at least through the remainder of 2012. Seventy percent of Ponderosa’s and Bonanza’s menus are dedicated to beef. Meanwhile, the checkoff partnered with fast casual operator Taco Cabana to introduce a beef promotion to increase customer awareness of beef menu items and drive beef sales during all three main meals of the day. This included launching the new Brisket Taco in 157 restaurant locations across three states during the promotion.
Focusing on Nutrition and Value A recent checkoff-funded consumer study found that nutrition reassurance and innovative value propositions are the strongest motivators for consumers to increase their beef consumption. Indications for the checkoff include extending the reach of current messages about beef’s nutritional value and promoting innovative portion sizes. Accordingly, work with retailers and restaurants will include efforts to encourage offering of small, expertly trimmed steaks in the meat case and at foodservice to increase beef purchases.
Uncovering the Power of Protein Increased protein intake can reduce muscle loss in elderly populations, according to recent population-based research studies funded by the checkoff. Results hypothesize that what has commonly been considered an inevitable loss of skeletal muscle with aging could be delayed or offset by maintaining or building muscle through proper nutrition and exercise. A new report in the British Journal of Nutrition highlights the study, noting the importance of combining higher protein intake with exercise to maintain or even gain muscle mass. The cross-sectional study collected data on participants ≥50 years old in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2006), analyzing associations between total protein intake, physical activity level and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. The combined effect of higher protein intake and muscle-strengthening exercises associated positively with skeletal muscle mass, and associations between total protein intake and skeletal muscle mass were much stronger in obese subjects who were physically active in either vigorous aerobic or muscle-strengthening exercises. The importance of adequate protein consumption was demonstrated among obese subjects, where those who did not meet the RDA for protein (0.8g/ kg per day) had lower skeletal mass than the physically inactive obese subjects. The study’s results demonstrate that engaging in exercise, particularly vigorous aerobic activity; can help preserve muscle mass, especially when combined with greater intakes of high-quality protein, such as beef.
NEVADA BEEF COUNCIL
P.O. Box 340310 • Sacramento, CA 95834-0310 www.nevadabeef.org • 877-554-BEEF (2333) • askus@nevadabeef.org
September 2012
Sage Signals Washington, D.C. to get a glimpse of reality from the farm and ranch community,” said Van Liew. “We find it unfortunate that our industry must resort to legal action against the USFS. This is something that could have been avoided if the agency had been responsive to our specific comments about the rule’s pervasive legal overreach.” In the new forest planning rule, the general focus is on ecosystem services, sustainability, preservation and even “spiritual values” over multiple-use, a clear diversion from the statutes governing management of our national forests. The new rule also fails to reflect MUSYA and NFMA requirements governing active land management for multiple uses, including livestock grazing, timber management and recreation. Livestock producers have been America’s public lands stewards for generations, according to Van Liew, working within the multiple use management approach established by Congress for national forest system lands. Ranching operations across the West rely on access to public lands and such operations provide an economic base for rural economies while maintaining wildlife habitat and diversity and preserving vast areas of open space across the range. According to Caroline Lobdell, counsel for the livestock associations and executive director of the Western Resources Legal Center, “The Forest Service has a long history of getting it wrong in the forest planning rule arena,” Lobdell stated, referring to the agency’s failed attempts in 2000, 2005 and 2008 to replace the 1982 planning rule. Lobdell explained that a rule requiring forest plans to elevate the “broad term ‘ecosystem services’ to at least the same status as the multiple uses established by Congress – uses like outdoor recreation, range and timber – simply cannot be reconciled with the productive purposes for which our national forests were established.” Van Liew said he is confident that an in-depth review of the forest planning rule will show that the regulation is a clear violation of law.
NEWS
WASHINGTON (Aug. 13, 2012) – The Public Lands Council (PLC), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), challenging its latest forest planning rule. PLC, NCBA and ASI join multiple industry organizations, such as the Federal Forest Resource Coalition, Minnesota Timber Producers Association and the California Forestry Association in filing suit, claiming that the new planning rule, finalized in March 2012, violates the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the MultipleUse, Sustained-Yield Act (MUSYA) of 1960 and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). Under the NFMA, USFS is required to promulgate regulations under the principles of the MUSYA, which set out the process for development and revision of land management plans, guidelines and standards. Individual forests follow the direction of the planning rule and develop specific management plans. The new planning rule, however, is flawed in multiple respects. For example, the planning rule requires USFS to “maintain a viable population of each species of conservation concern within the plan area.” The ill-defined term “viable population” does not appear in NFMA or any other statute, according to PLC Executive Director and NCBA Director of Federal Lands Dustin Van Liew. He said this vague term opens the door to even more litigation by radical special interest groups. Van Liew said the rule also effectively turns USFS guidelines into legally enforceable standards, throwing away hard-fought victories establishing that guidelines are discretionary — not mandatory — and tying the hands of land managers unnecessarily. “It is clear the USFS did not consider input from farmers and ranchers when creating and approving this new rule. This isn’t a surprise at all. Just look at this administration’s track record. From the EPA to USFS, they refuse to venture off the city sidewalks of
INDUSTRY
US Forest Service Planning Rule Violates Law
17