LMD July 2011

Livestock “The greatest homage we can pay to truth is to use it.”

– JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL JULY 15, 2011 •

MARKET

Digest I Volume 53 • No. 7

Where is the Outrage?

by Lee Pitts

G

“Don’t interfere with something that ain't botherin' you much.” $80,057 worth of NCBA overhead expenses that were “improperly charged.”

■ The ongoing compliance review has found $305,365 in checkoff dollars that the NCBA misappropriated in just two years and the final tally isn’t in!

■ Ag Secretary Vilsack has reminded ranchers that policy organizations are not permitted by law to influence, determine outcomes, or vote on checkoff decisions. But the checkoff is a

government program and the USDA is seemingly turning their back to the hijacking of the beef checkoff by the NCBA. Now $45 million a year of your checkoff dollars are handed over to the NCBA by the Beef Board, money that is used indirectly to help finance its lobbying effort. Don’t believe it? Read on...

■ Chuck Kiker, a Beef Board member recently revealed that 70.9 percent of NCBA’s total overhead is paid for with check-

off dollars. According to Kiker, NCBA charged the checkoff a whopping $11.6 million just to administer the checkoff projects they were awarded. (Remember when we were sold on the checkoff it was promised that administration costs would be kept to less than five percent). “Remember,” says Kiker, “those implementation costs are over and above the direct costs of projects. Even more astonishing is the fact that this includes general administrative salaries. The CEO of NCBA is also considered the CEO of the Federation of State Beef Councils, so his general administrative time is paid 70.9 percent with beef checkoff dollars.”

Yes, you read that right, over 70 percent of NCBA CEO Forest Roberts’ salary is paid for by checkoff dollars, and he works for a group that is actively lobbying Congress on a variety of subcontinued on page two

NOW THE REAL WORK BEGINS —

Reform of excessive litigation pay-outs

by KAREN BUDD-FALEN

NEWSPAPER PRIORITY HANDLING

by LEE PITTS

An All New US

www. aaalivestock . com

ood prices in the cattle business can come at the worst times. Take now, for example.

Ranchers are finally making a living wage and it’s about time! It happens so infrequently that many are embarrassed by it and don’t know how to act. So they are complacent at a time when there have never been more pressing issues regarding the future of the cattle business. Make-or-break issues like food safety, health of rural communities, monopolization and many others that will determine if your kids and grandkids will be able to make a living on the ranch. Cattlemen seem so apathetic, but if they don’t wake up soon these issues will be decided for them. When a person looks at the corruption on Capitol Hill and the beef checkoff these days one wonders . . . where is the outrage? Why aren’t ranchers up in arms over the following: ■ When the accounting firm began conducting their review of the beef checkoff for fiscal years 2008 through 2010 right off the bat they found $216,944 in faulty accounting. The NCBA repaid the Cattlemen’s Beef Board the money, apologized and that it was just an accounting error. But now the accountants have found an additional

Riding Herd

he American public has been asking for legislative reform of a system that pays taxpayer dollars to environmental “nonprofit” attorneys who charge $650 per hour to bring cases for statutory procedural violations, and we finally have it. On May 25, 2011, H.R. 1996, the Governmental Litigation Savings Act of 2011, was introduced to stop the deficit bleeding and level the playing field for all who seek to sue or need a permit from the federal government. But the simple introduction of this bill in the U.S. House of Representatives is not enough and we need your help. This bill has 18 sponsors, but needs many more and we need to get Congress to hold hearings to learn the true extent of the abuse. This is a call to action and a request for your help.

The Governmental Litigation Savings Act of 2011 (“GLSA”) has five major sections.

First, this Act eliminates the false distinction

T

in net worth between a “for profit” organization and a “nonprofit public interest” organization.

Currently, under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”), a for profit entity or person with a net worth over $7,000,000 is ineligible to recover attorney fees for litigation against the federal government. However, an entity that has been determined to be “nonprofit” is not bound by this restriction.

Thus, even though tax documents show a great many environmental and animal rights groups are worth far in excess of $7,000,000, these groups can “recover” attorney fees for suing the federal government. In other words, these “non-profit” groups get paid by the American taxpayers to sue the federal government which results in families losing their homes and businesses.

Under the existing EAJA, groups like the Sierra Club, who reported its worth as $56,527,055 in 2007 can receive tax payer continued on page eight

t’s recorded in the history books that when Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on their westward journey the cerebral President believed that the West was still inhabited by prehistoric animals.

Unfortunately, some Congressmen still think that we in the former frontier are cavemen and still need their help to become civilized.

My point is that our country is vastly different today than it was then. For example, anyone who has watched Congress on C SPAN knows that we shouldn’t be called the United States of America.

A more fitting name would be The Rarely United States of America.

Our national mascot is also wrong for the times we live in. Uncle Sam is sexist, racist with no tattoos or piercings being visually discernible. A more representative mascot would be Aunt Sam-antha who was previously a man, had a sexchange operation and is now a transvestite bi-sexual.

Uncle Sam is also way too tall. The short people in this country take one look at him and immediately feel disadvantaged and victimized. We also need to name a Mother Of Our Country as we already have a father.

Because we’re so celebrity obsessed likely candidates for the Mother of Our Country would be that gal Kate on television with eight kids, or the other one with 19. Or is it 25 by now?

In the final analysis though the best representative as Mother of Our Country would be none other than the Octomom.

Benjamin Franklin believed that our National Bird should be a chicken, not the eagle. While I don’t agree with Ben about the chicken, I’ve often wondered what it says about us as a nation to have our bird representative be a follically-challenged carnivore that eats roadkill. Our bird should stand for something more and I propose that it should be the Spotted Owl. Such a choice is more in continued on page ten

www.LeePittsbooks.com

Livestock Market Digest

Page 2

July 15, 2011

Where is the Outrage? jects. And that my friends, is illegal. The Ag Secretary said so himself.

■ “The NCBA is the primary contractor for checkoff funds,” says Kiker, “yet they are permitted to vote on who receives the contracts. I learned later that potential contractors at that time had to submit AR proposals to NCBA — not to the CBB — even if the potential contractors were in direct competition with NCBA. Little did I know then, but that was just the tip of the iceberg! For the 2011 program year, NCBA was awarded 93 percent of available program funding.”

continued from page one

NCBA had to pay with their own hard-earned money.

■ Remember when we were told that one of the advantages of the merger would be that all industry groups could meet at one time and under one roof?

Well, now they can’t even stand to be in the same state. The Beef Board decided NOT to meet with the NCBA in Washington, DC for their Summer Conference. Forrest Roberts, CEO of NCBA, acknowledged that there had been “communication misses” by not including CBB along with the NCBA in the meeting planning process.

■ Guess who was cheering the

There have never been more pressing issues regarding the future of the cattle business.

These days, knowing who you do business with is more important than ever. At Farm Credit of New Mexico, we’re more than bankers. We’re farmers and ranchers, too. We have a unique understanding of the financial tools and services you need to succeed – with none of the big bank attitude.

C A L L 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 5 1 - 5 9 9 7 o r v i s i t W W W. F A R M C R E D I T N M . C O M ALBUQUERQUE

•

ROSWELL

•

LAS CRUCES

•

TUCUMCARI

Livestock Market

Digest

Livestock Market Digest (ISSN 0024-5208) (USPS NO. 712320) is published monthly except semi-monthly in September by Rainy Day, Inc. at 2231 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Periodicals Postage Paid at Albuquerque, N.M.

POSTMASTER – Send change of address to: Livestock Market Digest, P.O. Box 7458, Albuquerque, N.M. 87194 Subscription Rates: $19.95 per year

Subscribe Today

•

CLOVIS

For advertising, subscription and editorial inquiries write or call: Livestock Market Digest, P.O. Box 7458 Albuquerque, N.M. 87194 Telephone: 505/243-9515 Fax: 505/998-6236 www.aaalivestock.com EDITORIAL and ADVERTISING STAFF: CAREN COWAN, Publisher LEE PITTS, Executive Editor CHUCK STOCKS, Publisher Emeritus COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING: MICHAEL WRIGHT, 505/243-9515, ext. 30 michael@aaalivestock.com

NAME

FIELD EDITOR: DELVIN HELDERMON 580/622-5754, 1094 Koller Rd. Sulphur, OK 73086

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

❏

ZIP

My check is enclosed for: One Year: $19.95 ❏ Two Years $29.95

Clip & mail to: Livestock Market Digest, P.O. Box 7458, Albuquerque, N.M. 87194

ADMINISTRATIVE and PRODUCTION STAFF: MARGUERITE VENSEL, Office Mgr. CAROL PENDLETON, Special Assistance CAMILLE PANSEWICZ, Graphic Artist

■ “These problems began to evolve around 1996,” says Kiker, “when the merger occurred, and they have simply never been addressed. Why? Because too many producers participating in the governance and oversight of the checkoff program were too closely tied to NCBA.” ■ Producers pay the checkoff and are not supposed to have to pay to go to meetings to see how their money is being spent. Kiker says, “I know some who have been given a hard time or even turned away at NCBA meetings because they refused to pay a convention registration fee just to go to checkoff committee and CBB meetings held during the NCBA conventions. That’s just not right; it’s our checkoff, and we should have open access to it.”

■ Dave Wright is NCBA Region 4 Director and as such he recently asked for a show of hands as to how many Federation of State Beef Council Directors were NOT NCBA members. Only three raised their hands. It’s no wonder then that the Federation voted NOT to operate as an independent structure and to sever their ties with the NCBA. Wright said it was like asking the citizens of Nebraska who the best college football team is. “So I asked,” says Wright, “for all the dues paying NCBA members to abstain from voting because of a conflict of interest. I was then informed that they could wear two hats and they would not abstain.” Then Wright made a motion to develop the same relationship with all nonprofit Industry organization instead of just the NCBA. It failed 3 to 80. The three, we suppose, were the NCBA non-members.

■ Room rates for the host hotel for NCBA/CBB 2011 summer conference were $187 per night plus a 15 percent tax ($215 per night). This doesn’t include airfare or other expenses. The checkoff pays for anyone who’s there on checkoff business. Anyone else who might object to the use of the checkoff by the

loudest when a “confidential” World Trade Organization interim report (must not be too confidential) sided with Mexico and Canada in finding that a U.S. labeling country-of-origin (COOL) law violated WTO rules. That’s right . . . the NCBA, that checkoff/lobbying organization, said it was good news and that COOL should never have been enacted in the first place.

We’re talking about the label that lets our customers, the consumers, know where their meat comes from. And the NCBA says it never should have been enacted? And these are the same folks spending all our money to sell more beef to consumers? All this despite a Zogby Poll that found that 94 percent of Americans want to know where their food comes from and two-thirds of those polled will buy locallyproduced products first. We’d remind the NCBA that good customer service means giving the consumers what they want.

■ According to NCBA President Bill Donald, COOL is a bad thing because it reduces the number of cattle in the U.S. marketplace. That’s right, he said, “Reducing the number of cattle in the marketplace also reduces the infrastructure of the U.S. beef industry. Shrinking the size and scope of our industry only serves to cripple us for the future.” So let me get this right . . . reducing the number of imports into this country, which we clearly saw during the BSE crises really improves the price American ranchers get for their cattle, is a bad thing?

■ When talking about reduced infrastructure he’s talking about the beef packers. But I thought we have an overcapacity of killing plants as it is? NCBA’s Donald says about COOL, “The truth is, in this global economy, a rising tide floats all boats.” Pardon us but the millions of folks on unemployment right now because we buy more and more from other countries might find continued on page three

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

July 15, 2011

Where is the Outrage? that quote just a little hard to believe.

■ The WTO panel that preliminarily said COOL violates our trade agreements consisted of a Swiss diplomat, Pakistan’s ambassador to the WTO, and a WTO staffer-turned-trade consultant from Portugal. “I think, says Bill Bullard of R-CALF, “this preliminary decision reveals a far more serious problem, and that is if we continue to acquiesce to this international tribunal, we lose our sovereignty. Our COOL law was passed under our Constitution by the American Congress and the U.S. president. The WTO is a policy advocacy group on a global scale. It is unconscionable that we would allow such an unelected policy group to dictate to the U.S. what information consumers can have when they buy food at the grocery store."

■ We already have the smallest cow herd since 1958, and 2010 was the fifth straight year of decline. A graph of the cattle business in America since 1965 shows that our cattle and calves inventory peaked in 1973 around 135 million head and sloped downward until now with 92.5 million. That’s over a 30 percent drop by our calculation. Thirty years ago there were 1.3 million beef cattle operations. Today there are only 740,000. Just think, without COOL we’d have even more imports which would allow us to reduce our numbers even further. But the NCBA doesn’t care. They’ll get their checkoff bucks just the same because checkoff dollars are collected on imported cattle and beef too. And the NCBA doesn’t have to provide services to foreigners. Or are they providing the best service of all in the form of lobbying for greater access?

■ As our numbers dwindle we wonder if the NCBA will support the lifting of the ban on fresh beef imports from some Brazilian states later this year because there’s not enough beef.

Perhaps they’re confused and forgot that their ex-lobbyist, who is now doing the same thing for Brazilian meatpacker JBS, no longer works for them.

■ And you thought mandatory animal ID was dead? Soon the USDA is expected to issue its new proposed rule for mandatory ID. The powerful meatpacking lobby continues to push hard for mandatory ID and the NCBA is carrying their water for them on this issue, too. According to Judith McGeary, a rancher and executive director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, “The extra expenses and labor will fall disproportionately on family farmers and ranchers, accelerating the loss of independent businesses to corporate industrial-scale producers.”

■ “Consumers need the USDA to start focusing on the animal health and food safety risks posed by industrialized meat production,” said Patty Lovera of Food & Water Watch.

continued from page two

“If USDA devoted as much energy to preventing animal diseases as it has to promoting animal tracking, our food system would be in much better shape.”

tion cycles. The Appropriations Committee received 18.4 percent of all meatpacker and poultry industry donations to the 112th Congress during the period. “Over the past decade, the meatpacker and poultry industry have given over $3.3 million to

Thirty years ago there were 1.3 million beef cattle operations.

Today there are only 740,000.

■ At the urging of NCBA and other packer-backers, The House Appropriation committee vote to defund the GIPSA rule that would put some teeth into the Packers and Stockyards Act. When the Republican-led House of Representatives voted on the 2012 Ag Appropriations Bill the vote was 217 to 203 NOT to fund the GIPSA rule which would restore some competition to U.S. livestock markets. The vote was not surprising considering that according to a Food & Water Watch the meatpacker and poultry industry PACs gave $615,305 to House Appropriations Committee members between the 2000 and 2010 elec-

current members of Congress — 65 percent to the Republicans that are pushing a radical deregulatory agenda that threatens consumers and farmers,” said Food & Water Watch executive director Wenonah Hauter.

■ Over 140 organizations, including the Farm Bureau, voted in support of the GIPSA rule.

Those who don’t want to see the GIPSA rules implemented include factory farm groups like the National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, National Pork Producers Council and American Meat Institute.

They were joined by the NCBA. One thing these groups all have in common? Meatpackers on

Page 3

their governing boards.

■ In last month’s front page story we told you about the newly formed U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), which gets a good share of its money from checkoff programs.

USFRA wrote a letter to Representative Marcy Kaptur that said; “the Agriculture Department should have an opportunity to complete reviewing the 60,000 comments received and that it is ‘imperative’ that USDA continue its economic analysis.”

USFRA wants to stall things so the USDA can’t implement the GIPSA rule. Doesn’t that fit the definition of lobbying? We wonder . . . what percent of the cost of the stationery the letter was written on was paid for by checkoff dollars?

■ “Our cattle industry is in a death struggle with the meatpackers,” says Bill Bullard. “The meatpackers want to control the entire live cattle supply chain through vertical integration just as they already do in what remains of our U.S. poultry and U.S. hog industries — industries where new participants are virtually excluded unless they are invited by the meatpackers to raise poultry or livestock under a

meatpacker-controlled contract.”

These have become known as “sweetheart deals.”

■ The GIPSA rule would make public the sweetheart deals the packers now sign with big feeders. These types of deals were supposed to be outlawed by the Packers and Stockyards Act in 1921. When will ranchers wake up and see what has happened to the poultry and hog industries with the use of all these contracts? Once they signed on the dotted line they quickly came to realize that they all couldn’t be sweethearts. In fact they have been changed into something quite different. Serfs on the own land.

But what the heck, these are good times right? No worries.

We would remind ranchers that there has never been a soft landing after one of these runups in cattle prices. When the partying is over this time we’ll find ourselves going through another gut wrenching cleansing in which we’ll lose another chunk of producers. It will be far worse this time, all thanks to the theft of checkoff dollars by the corrupt NCBA. When is enough enough? Where is the outrage, indeed?

San Angelo Packing Co., Inc.

1809 NORTH BELL ST., SAN ANGELO, TX 76903 P.O. BOX 1469, SAN ANGELO, TX 76902

A DIRECT MARKET FOR THE PRODUCER A BUYER OF Congratulations t e k r a M QUALITY k c o t s e v i L e h t m fro SLAUGHTER h t 7 2 r u o Y n o t s Dige COWS & ! s s e in s u B in y A nniversar BULLS

800/588-6328 • 800/LUV-MEAT

Livestock Market Digest

Page 4

My Cowboy Heroes

by JIM OLSON

“Change” hange is a scary word to many. Like it or not, however, everything changes. Even the most formidable substances, such as rocks in a mountain, are being changed over time by elements. Slowly or rapidly, all is in a state of change. People, however, tend to resist it.

When life throws changes at you, and I guarantee it will, you need to adapt with the situation, or before you know it, the world is moving on without you — you become dead weight. Once you have done all you can about a situation, you have done all you’re meant to do about it.

Do you look towards the future with anticipation and excitement, or with dread and fear? Whether you think change is a good thing or bad, it doesn’t matter, for it is coming either way. Why not make the best of it?

What worked yesterday, may not work today and probably will not work tomorrow. Yesterday, you knew how to deal with circumstances, today you need another plan, tomorrow yet another.

Some gradual changes we have seen over the years: ■ In the days of the Old Testament, most Hebrews did not cut their hair or trim their beards. It was considered sacrilege to do so.

Today, a lot of people shave from

C

head to toe (yes, even Religious people). To my knowledge, God has not struck any of them down for it.

■ 100 years ago and beyond, God-fearing women would not dare dress in a manner, which showed any skin below the neckline. You were considered cheap if you did. Today, a woman may believe conservative dress refers to a one-piece swimsuit instead of the dental floss kind. None-theless, someone calling a woman, “tramp,” just because some skin is visible would be considered out of step, old fashioned and chastised greatly.

■ Prior to 1537, mainly Church officials were the only ones allowed to read from the Bible.

According to sources, the first man to completely translate the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into English was William Tyndale.

He once told a Priest, “I will make the man who follows a plow know more about the Bible than you.”

He was eventually strangled and burned for it, along with his Bibles, by Church officials!

■ Only when King Henry VIII changed the law was there English versions available. Even then, it wasn’t until 1611, when King James I ordered a new translation direct from old Greek and Hebrew manuscripts (The King James Version) that the Bible was made available to the common

man en masse. Imagine a world where the most important book in history was not readily available to the public. I don’t think so!

■ During what most consider “the time of the cowboy,” a period from the end of the War Between the States until the 1890s, anybody could become a cattleman.

Entrepreneurs, who showed they had what it took could go into western states and gather maverick cattle for their benefit.

Many large and wealthy ranches started in this manner. Men looked for opportunity, it came in the form of cattle; they seized the moment and did what was necessary to make it happen. They became successful and rich.

Today, although there are still plenty of cowboys and cattleman out there, it is totally different.

Ranching is now a commodity business with fairly small margins.

Large amounts of capital are needed to even have a chance of making a living at it.

When I was a kid, old men would tell me, “Cattle are the way to go. I raised so many children and provided myself a good living with cattle.” Traditions ran deep.

Yeah, and they probably did it with under 300 head and on an inherited ranch. What worked back then does not present the same opportunity today. According to the 2007 USDA census of agriculture, the average beef cattle

The Best of the Bunch

FROM THE PHOTO of his hand-tooled cover to the very last story, Lee’s newest book, A Handmade Life, is pure Pitts. In the tradition of Dirt Roads and God’s Country, Lee’s latest will entertain and inspire. Destined to be a classic.

ORDER FORM

QUANTITY

Four Book Special

oose any four 4-BOOK SPECIAL! Ch only $49.95. pay and ks bo ’s of Lee ty Postage! ori Pri es lud And that inc tential po a to It all ads up saving of over $20!

PRICE

TOTAL

$49.95

BOOKS ORDERED SEPARATELY A Handmade Life

$14.95

These Things I Wish

$14.95

A Collection of Characters

$12.95

Essays from God’s Country

$12.95

Back Door People

$11.95

People Who Live at the End of Dirt Roads

$12.95

Shipping & Handling

$3.00

(Per Item if ordered separately)

Tax (If California resident only)

TOTAL

x 8.25%

GRAND TOTAL Name__________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address ________________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________________ State _________ Zip________________

h t t p : / / w w w. a a a l i ve s t o ck . c o m / c o n t e n t . p h p ? I = 3 8

FOR BOOKS ORDERED SEPARATELY PLEASE PAY $3.00 EACH FOR POSTAGE AND HANDLING.

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: LEE PITTS, AND MAIL TO: P.O. BOX 616, MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA 93443

July 15, 2011 herd size in the United States is 78 head. That’s hobby ranching.

As a matter of fact, only 5,813 out of 764,984 herds had 500 cows or more. 500 head being generally accepted by economies of scale measurements as where you ought to be if you’re actually going to make a decent living.

While ranching is, at least in my humble opinion, a very good lifestyle, it’s appears that less than 1 percent of ranchers in this country actually make a living at it. Not the greatest business opportunity in the world unless, of course, you have large amounts of capital available or have inherited the ranch, but even then, there are other options with better margins.

With few exceptions, cowboys of today live on smaller acreages and earn their living at just about anything but punchin’ cows. And when folks refer to a “ranch,” it could mean an acre in north Scottsdale, five acres in the Rio Grande Valley, 40 acres outside of Austin or pretty much anything where a few head of livestock are held. Yes, cowboys and ranching have changed forever and will continue to change.

The preceding changes happened over a period of many years, even centuries. But these days, changes happen in hyper drive!

In the latter part of the 20th century, people, without much backing (similar to the ranchers of the late 19th century), were starting companies from scratch and becoming rich. However, the game had changed. Internet businesses (.coms) were the mavericks of the day. Some manufactured opportunity from thin air, it seemed, which made them rich. Personally, I would rather punch cows.

A world which gradually changed over six thousand years from the hunter / gatherer mentality to an agriculture mentality, then changed to the industrial age and before you could blink an eye (metaphorically speaking in the timeframe of the world) the technical age was upon us.

One hundred short years ago people were getting off horses and out of wagons to drive an automobile. After thousands of year’s ahorseback, mankind stepped into the industrial age. Today, with technology making advances by leaps and bounds, you can talk to someone on the other side of the world while looking at them on a hand-held device; sending pictures and full color documents at the same time. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

I knew guys back in the 1980s that swore if gas prices ever hit two dollars per gallon, they would go back to the horse and buggy mode of transportation. At the time, gas had broken the one-dollar mark, for good it seemed, hovering consistently around a dollar twenty-five. The two-dollar mark was such a great stretch, it would probably never happen in their lifetime.

Well, most of those same folk are still around today and they would jump for joy if they only had to pay two dollars per gallon for fuel! How times have changed!

Change comes at us faster and

faster every day. A generation or two ago, people decided upon a career, got the education or training they needed and spent the rest of their lives doing that type of work. Sure, maybe along about retirement age they were becoming antiquated in their methods, but folks just called them outdated and let them go out to pasture when the time was right. Today, a lot of jobs are obscure within a decade!

We all know people who proclaim, “The world is changing too fast for me.” But I would like to remind them of an old saying, “You lead, follow, or get out of the way because either way, change is coming; fast!”

It’s impossible to go back in time and nothing stays the same, but the exciting part is that you can help choose the direction in which life takes you. Instead of digging in and clinging to a passing moment, welcome change and make it work for you. Don’t hate change, embrace it and make it your friend. Like it or not, it’s coming at the speed of light.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with holding on to traditions, I am a supporter and promoter of the western way of life and those uniquely American traditions myself; but what I’m getting at, is you have to find new ways to accomplish the same old goals.

Some say to me, “I just can’t, I’m too old and set in my ways.”

But I say to them, “Can’t is a fourletter word, which should be eliminated from your vocabulary.”

Stop telling yourself what you can’t do and start focusing on how you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

In the cowboy world, we are no more immune to change than anyone else. However, our kind has always been pioneers — used to loading up the wagons and heading into new frontiers. Just remember there is opportunity in every changing period.

Some examples which come to mind: better livestock genetics, agriculture tourism, the team roping number system, all natural and organic products, GPS guided farm equipment and niche markets of innumerable kinds.

Let’s not forget the ever-important cultural aspects like: cowboy poets, cowboy singers, movie cowboys and western re-enactors.

Where would the world be without those guys to entertain the tourists and remind us of what cowboys are supposed to look and act like! LOL! As we try to keep our heritage alive and well, we must find new ways of doing it. If you’re one of those 78 head ranchers, or a cowboy who lives on an acre, don’t give up, let’s not sit around reminiscing about the good ol’ days; complaining. Instead why shouldn’t we put our thinking caps on and figure out a desirable, yet sustainable place for us in the modern world.

Remember, the past is best used for educational purposes; the future however, should be very interesting to us, as that’s where I suspect our remaining time will be spent!

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

July 15, 2011

Foot and mouth study suggests culls may be reduced

by KATE KELLAND, Reuters

cientists studying foot and mouth disease have found that cattle with the virus are infectious for only a very short time, suggesting that mass culling previously used to reduce the disease’s spread may in future be avoided.

In research published in the journal Science recently, scientists found that even if the foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus is detected in a cow’s blood sample, it does not necessarily mean the cow is infectious at that time.

In fact a cow with FMD is only infectious for around 1.7 days, they said.

Mark Woolhouse of Britain’s

S

Edinburgh University, who worked on the study, said the finding significantly altered scientists’ thinking about FMD and may have implications for other diseases, too.

“This study shows that what we thought we knew about foot and mouth disease is not entirely true,” he said. “So what we think we know about human influenza and other infectious pathogens might not be completely accurate either.”

Foot and mouth disease is one of the world’s most important infectious diseases of farmed animals and it is regarded as a major economic threat in Europe.

Countries where FMD is

endemic — in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America — can spend vast amounts of money vaccinating their cattle every few months and farmers are often forced to kill off large numbers of livestock if a case of FMD is confirmed among their herds.

In 2001, Britain suffered one of the largest FMD epidemics to hit a developed country in several decades and millions of animals were culled and their corpses burned on huge pyres.

The outbreak devastated the nation’s farming industry and cost Britain an estimated 8.5 billion pounds ($14 billion).

Woolhouse worked with

Page 5

Bryan Charleston and colleagues from Britain’s Pirbright Laboratory on new kinds of experiments in which they infected “source” cows with the FMD virus and then studied how it was transmitted to other, uninfected cows.

“We have pinned down, very specifically, the relationship between when the animals are infectious . . . and when they show clinical signs of the infection,” he explained at a briefing about the study.

The researchers found that diagnosis of foot and mouth disease infection is possible during the approximately 24 hours before the animal becomes infectious.

This suggests that farmers might have time to remove the

infected animals from a herd before they transmit the virus to others, potentially saving many animals from being culled.

Charleston described the discovery as good news but cautioned that it would be some years yet before the findings in laboratory conditions could be translated into new disease control methods capable of handling a real large-scale outbreak.

“This result emphasizes the need for practical tools for preclinical diagnosis and at present we don’t have an affordable, reliable, test to use on farms,” he said.

“We can identify infected cattle before they show signs of disease using tests in the laboratory.

The next challenge is to do it in the field during an outbreak.”

Mexican Truckers Can Now Carry Goods into United States exican truckers will be able to carry goods deep into the United States, and vice versa, under a deal signed in early July in Mexico City to keep a 17-year-old promise, reports the New York Times.

The United States had refused to honor a condition of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement that allowed Mexican trucks to carry shipments across the border to a final destination. Regulations instead required those trucks to unload shortly after crossing the border. After more than a decade of waiting and negotiating, Mexico retaliated by impos-

M

ing tariffs in 2009.

■ As part of the deal, Mexico will eliminate tariffs on $2.3 billion of American goods and agricultural products as soon as the first Mexican truck obtains a permit and is allowed to enter the United States.

■ As a preliminary step, the tariffs will be reduced 50 percent by the end of this week.

The free trade agreement among Canada, Mexico and the United States, known as NAFTA, made clear that trucks could cross the border. But in 1995 the Clinton administration closed the southern gates, citing concontinued on page eight

e l t t a C m o t Cus s t i t a g n i Feed Finest!

Johnny Trotter, President / General Mgr. Res: 806/364-1172 • Mob.: 806/346-2508 Email: jtrotter@bar-g.com Kevin Bunch, Assistant Manager Mike Blair, Comptroller Mike Anthony, Shipping/Receiving

PO BOX 1797 HEREFORD, TX 79045

806/357-2241

Books by Jim Olson and other fine western authors . . .

Stop by or call! We have John Wayne Memorabilia, western art and numerous other items!

LOCATED ON PART OF THE OL’ RED RIVER RANCH! 40070 W. HWY. 84, STANFIELD, AZ 85172

WWW.MYCOWBOYHEROES.COM • 520/424-3839

Bar-G FEEDYARD 125,000-Head Capacity 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HEREFORD, TEXAS FINANCING AVAILABLE

Livestock Market Digest

Page 6

July 15, 2011

Judge rules in favor of livestock grazing associations and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, we’ve come to realize how significant this ruling is statewide to all cattlemen, whether grazing on private or public lands.”

The appeal by WWP objected to the renewal of the grazing permits, which had been approved after a thorough environmental review. The Forest Service grazing decision also incorporated adaptive management principles to improve environmental conditions in the forests. The ranchers and the Forest Service worked together to develop management steps that would address resource issues and still be costeffective. Upon reviewing the briefs and the administrative record, the court affirmed the decision of the Forest Service and allows continued livestock grazing under the adaptive man-

he Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) announced June 17 that the U.S. Forest Service, the Chaffee County Board of Commissioners, CCA, and most importantly — 13 livestock producing families — prevailed against a lawsuit filed by Western Watershed’s Project (WWP).

In 2009, CCA and Chaffee County joined ranchers in protecting their right to multiple-use grazing of public lands by intervening in a lawsuit filed by the anti-livestock grazing WWP, which sought to deny renewal of grazing in the Pike and SanIsabelNational Forests.

“This is a huge win for our family and cattlemen in this part of the state,” stated Ken McMurry, grazing permittee.

“Through the support of Chaffee County, other local cattlemen’s

T

Scott 8' Portable Tubs with 18' Alley Ready for Transport in Minutes

SCOTT MANUFACTURERS

• 10' & 12' Stationary Tubs • 18' Adjustable Alleys • Continuous Fence • Heavy-Duty Feed Bunks • Complete Line of Heavy-Duty Livestock Equipment

2 Bar Angus BULLS • FEMALES • EMBRYOS

Bulls For Sale Private Treaty 1-877/2-BAR-ANG WWW.2BARANGUS.COM 1-806/344-7444 • Hereford, Texas John Thames • Steve Knoll

ANNUAL SALE: 1st Saturday in October

FREEZE BRANDERS

Made of Solid Brass For more information on our electric dehorners and other livestock branding equipment, please write, call or visit our website listed below.

ed to the fact that the Forest Service had worked closely with the grazing permittees to develop management plans that made sense and would achieve the Forest Service’s objectives. While federal law calls for these grazing plans to be written in coordination with ranchers, this litigation would have undone the cooperation and consultation that has characterized the grazing program on the Salida Leadville Ranger District of the Pike San

This super cold brander, when applied to an animal, turns the hair white or colorless in the design of the brand, making it easily read from any distance.

Numbers available in 1" thru 6" size.

Most custom designs available.

L-H BRANDING IRONS P.O. Box 639 • Mandan, ND 58554 • 800/437-8068 www.lhbrandingirons.com

all of the hard work the permittees and agencies put into the Environmental Assessment.”

The WWP argued that the decision made by the Forest Service was inconsistent with the Forest Plan; more specifically, it violated the Forest Plan in various ways including wildlife protection, protecting soil productivity, protecting water quality, and protecting archaeological resources. The court found that the Forest Service properly

AG GROUPS RALLY AS FIRES HIT LIVESTOCK New plans, recent exercises paying off

by JANE MOORMAN, NMSU News Center

SCOTT SIDEROLL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. www.scottmanufacturers.com

To a pasture near you!

Isabel National Forest.”

Tim Canterbury and his family are also thrilled with the courts decision. “We are happy to see that the court ruled this way. It shows that the courts recognize

The ranchers and the Forest Service worked together to develop management steps that would address resource issues and still be cost-effective.

GORDON, NEBRASKA 1-800/435-0532

Coming Soon

LH

agement that everyone committed to do.

As CCA counsel Connie Brooks explained, “This decision is especially significant because Western Watersheds had object-

addressed each of these issues.

Some of the measures included in the Proposed Plan were changing the stocking rate, limiting grazing to certain seasons, rest rotation, and active herding — all of which permittees will conduct to protect the public’s natural resources. After further review, the court strongly disagreed with WWP, stating the court may not assume that the Forest Service will fail to implement these actions in their Proposed Plan.

“The good guys won!,” exclaimed Chaffee County Commissioner Frank Holman.

“The Western Watersheds Project is ignorant of the positive impact ranchers have on the land, and that these same ranchers leave the forest in an improved state. This verdict by the government keeps WWP from running over the little guy.

This finally proves that cattlemen do not have to put up with invasions to our Western way of life.”

s wildfires break out across New Mexico, Center to work with counties on federally mancounties and agricultural agencies have dated agricultural emergency plans.

During the Track Fire in Colfax County, Bill opened their emergency response plans and are organizing to help keep livestock, Sauble, Colfax County Commissioner, said, “We got our agricultural emergency plan out horses and other animals out of harm's way.

“We’ve planned and practiced responding to and went to work.”

“In association with the New Mexico emergencies for the past five years, and it’s Department of Homeland Secubeing put into practice now,” rity, NMDA, Cooperative said Billy Dictson, co-director of the Southwest Border Food At the recent Cattle and Extension and the Livestock Board, we have worked with Safety and Defense Center Wool Growers summer county emergency management office of biosecurity housed at meeting, ranchers were personnel to be ready,” Dictson New Mexico State University. asking how they could said. “One of our goals was to “It’s awesome to watch the various people and agencies working take Incident Command have various agencies’ people know each other, so they can smoothly together to help proSystem training so access each other quickly during tect our citizens’ livelihood.” they could be better the emergency.”

In some counties, horse prepared to assist As fires break out around response groups are very active New Mexico, a daily conference in moving horses from affected during natural call is held between the SWBFSareas. disasters.

DC, NMDA, county Extension When the Wallow Fire broke agents, the Livestock Board, and out in eastern Arizona and threatened Catron County, New Mexico’s agri- New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, Farm culture community began to respond with and Bureau and others.

They review what’s happening at the various escape routes, transportation, feed and water.

As the Las Conchas Fire broke out June 27 fires in regard to livestock being in harm’s way near the Valles Caldera National Preserve, rep- and then connect people to resolve the issues.

“We watched other states during natural disresentatives of NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, New Mexico Department of Agricul- asters, such as Texas during Hurricane Rita and ture, New Mexico Livestock Board, New Mexi- their recent fires, and realized that we had to be co Farm and Livestock Bureau and various cat- ready to move quickly in response to events tle producers organized to protect and respond such as the fires that are breaking out around to livestock that might be in the path of the fire. ourstate,” Dictson said. “We think New Mexico A couple of days later, fires were roaring in is a model in terms of this type of response, Otero, Lincoln and Eddy counties. Again, the thanks to all of the people who make themselves agricultural group networked and began helping available to help.”

At the recent Cattle and Wool Growers’ livestock producers in the midst of multiple fires.

“In New Mexico, the Livestock Board is leg- summer meeting, ranchers were asking how islatively charged with the responsibility to work they could take Incident Command System with other responders to mitigate the damage,” training so they could be better prepared to Dictson said. “However, as multiple fires erupt- assist during natural disasters. That training will ed and personnel get stretched, response be offered soon by the SWBFSDC. Jeff Witte, NMDA director, and Dictson becomes more and more a local issue and coopcredit the agricultural community’s partnership eration becomes more important.”

New Mexico is very prepared for an agricul- with the New Mexico Department of Hometural emergency, thanks to the commitment of land Security and Emergency Management for the Southwest Border Food Safety and Defense the success of New Mexico’s preparedness.

A

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

July 15, 2011

Page 7

Ford Commits to Reconsidering USCAP Membership ord CEO Pressed on Ford’s Membership in Anti-Energy USCAP Lobbying Group at Annual Shareholder Meeting

by National Center for Public Policy Research Ford CEO Alan Mullaly has committed to reconsidering his company’s membership in a corporate-environmental movement lobby organization, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), that exists solely to lobby for federal laws limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

Mullaly was pressed on the matter at the company’s annual stockholder meeting by National Center for Public Policy Research Vice President David A. Ridenour. Ridenour and the National Center for Public Policy Research are Ford shareholders.

Ridenour asked Ford’s management: . . . My question pertains to Ford’s membership in the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a corporate-environmentalist alliance that seeks, and I quote “legislation requiring significant

F

reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.”

Ford’s membership is USCAP surprising, given that Ford produces products that run on fossil fuels, less fuel efficient vehicles such as F-150s and Econoline vans accounted for 30 percent of your April sales, and some of its most reliable customers for these products, farmers, ranchers, and construction companies, run energy-intensive businesses that are highly sensitive to the fuel price increases Ford is lobbying for through USCAP. Furthermore, USCAP membership engenders ill-will for Ford among the new majority in Congress. Will you re-evaluate your membership in USCAP especially in light of the fact that even Government Motors, excuse me, General Motors, has withdrawn from USCAP? As has John Deere and Caterpillar?

Finally, I’d like to share with your board, with your permission, a poll we commissioned on the reaction of conservatives, who represent a strong plurality of your customers, to corpora-

tions lobbying for cap-and-trade, as Ford again effectively is doing through USCAP. We surveyed attitudes about two other corporations — but haven’t surveyed opinions about Ford . . . yet.

One corporation’s favorability rating dropped 31 points while another’s dropped 50 points, because of their support for capand-trade. Have you fully analyzed the risks of continued USCAP membership poses to Ford’s reputation?

“Don’t give the keys to your cars to Washington,” Ridenour concluded.

Speaking publicly in response to Ridenour, Mullaly said Ford is constantly reviewing its memberships and alliances. Without expressly using the term, he said Ford had received public relations benefits from USCAP membership, and also specifically cited the benefit of being “to participate in the drafting of [the Energy and Security Act/capand-trade] legislation.”

Ridenour met with with Mullaly privately following the shareholder meeting and was some-

www.baxterblack.com

Baxter BLACK ON

THE

EDGE

OF

COMMON

SENSE

England’s Choice ngland has made a choice to remain dependent on other countries to feed them. Recently corporations have proposed to build a modern dairy and sow unit in their countryside.

Two activist groups objected saying it would force a significant number of small farmers out of business. The proposal was withdrawn.

We in the United States have faced that choice and decided to encourage modern agricultural practices which have resulted in concentration of production and the elimination of most small farmers. Are we wrong or right to have chosen technology over status quo?

England can no longer feed itself. Sixty million people in a country the size of Mississippi with an average rainfall of approximately 25 inches. The government micro-manages agriculture. It leans against modern agricultural practices. Much of it is subsidized. Politics controls imports. As if England did not have enough problems, Prince Charles has taken it upon himself to tell us we should follow their model. He says we need a “new system of accounting for sustainability.” He points to Walmart’s backing of local sourcing of food and sustainable or organic produce as a reason to be hopeful that our industry is listening. He is joined by the animal rights/environmentalist activists denouncing America’s “mega farms” and accusing us of cruelty to animals and pollution.

By 2050 the world population will have increased 20 percent to 9.4 billion. If Prince Charles can convince us to limit our food production, and Canada, Australia and India follow suit, who will feed us? Argentina? Brazil? Russia? Maybe by then, Africa will have finally overcome itself and become self-supporting and change our import sta-

E

ples to Taro root and bamboo shoots.

Here Chuck . . . let me put this paper bag over your head. What is wrong with this picture? You need to take a course in Colonist Common Sense.

Surely someone in your country must understand that a “new system of accounting for sustainability” has the profundity of “Yearning for Chickens that have no Bones.” Charlie . . . the Sheriff of Nottingham thought he could take all the peasant’s crops, and tools, and oxen away, and they would continue to farm! You point to Walmart as a good example.

Walmart would not exist today if they restricted their sales to home-grown organic food. They have become the biggest corporation in the world by selling groceries, tires, meat, clothes, wine, pliers and guns manufactured by the cheapest bidder, whether it’s Chile, Hong Kong, or Vino Fino!

What is amazing to me is that Prince Charles’ subjects seem to be blind or ignorant or complacent to the consequences of this royal balderdash.

The Limeys have become Loonies! Family farms in the U.S. and Canada survive by using the same technology that is available to our mega-farms!

Our small farmers are innovative, hard working and committed to making a profit.

When you turn your farmers back into peasants, you get the kind of agriculture you are promoting now. But when you give them the ability, incentive, and freedom to produce the best that nature, sweat and technology allows, you get the American and Canadian Horn of Plenty. Call us when you’re hungry.

“I have watched this famous island descending incontinently, fecklessly, the stairway which leads to a dark gulf.” — Winston Churchill, While England Slept.

what encouraged by the message he received. Among other things, Mullay acknowledged the risk that regulation of carbon emissions could lead to government control of the auto industry and expressed concern about this possibility. He also implied that the fact that “cap-and-trade is dormant” in Congress now could be significant in terms of Ford’s future approach to these issues.

“It is understandable, though intensely regrettable and keenly unfortunate, that corporate executives faced with an anti-business, anti-energy Congress felt they had to join an anti-business, anti-energy lobbying coalition to get what Quislings often call a ‘seat at the table,’” said Ridenour after the meetings, “but the American people must press the point that if all business executives who know better were to refuse to participate in their own destruction, there wouldn’t be a dangerous table at which to sit.

We need to further encourage Ford, other corporate USCAP members, and the entire business community not to preemptively surrender to left-wing lobby groups. Surrender means dire costs not only to their business bottom line, but to the welfare and prosperity of the American people as a whole.”

Ridenour also reminded Mullay the federal government cannot be an honest broker in energy regulation, as it has an interest in the profitability of both of Ford’s two largest domestic competitors.

Corporate USCAP members, including Ford, reportedly provide six-figure grants to the green lobby group USCAP as a condition of membership.

Following pressure from the National Center for Public Policy Research, Caterpillar, John Deere, ConocoPhillips, BP and GM have all withdrawn from USCAP.

Cowley Farm & Feedlot Company • 5,000-Head Capacity • Backgrounding and Finishing • Feeding silage, alfalfa hay, corn and barley • Hedging on Request Three generations serving you IVAN, BRAD & JEREMY COWLEY 546 Venice Main St., Venice, Utah 84701 435/896-5260 cowleyfarm@hotmail.com

Agriculture at SCCC/ATS has something for you!

LIVESTOCK JUDGING • BLOCK AND BRIDLE COLLEGIATE FARM BUREAU • SCHOLARSHIPS COURSES IN AGRONOMY AND ANIMAL SCIENCE

Seward County Community College Area Technical School Contact Brett Crow, Judging Coach/Instructor 316-323-4879 • Liberal, KS

Ordway

Cattle Feeders LLC COMMERCIAL FEEDLOT Capacity 55,000 Cattle & Feed Financing Available TYLER KARNEY, MANAGER 19424 HWY. 96, ORDWAY, CO. 81063 • 719/267-3551

Livestock Market Digest

Page 8

Now the Real Work Begins

For advertising contact, MICHAEL WRIGHT 505/243-9515, ext. 30 michael@aaalivestock.com Michael brings with him four generations of the range livestock industry and a keen awareness of the issues facing ranchers and rural economies today.

!

0)) %".+* )3 +*/-+) 4 *31'%-%5

+2 3%-.#0-& ,'1'(/% %$.(. *%/

money to sue the federal government, but a company with the same net worth cannot. Similarly, if the compensation package for the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council is $432,959.00, do they really need the American citizens funding their litigation agains against the American government?

Second, the GLSA places a cap on both the hourly fees that attorneys can charge and on the amount of money that can be awarded to an individual group in a year. Under the GLSA, the hourly fees charged by attorneys is capped at $175 per hour and that cap can only be adjusted for

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Lifetime Products ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ROOF COATINGS, ★ ★ ★ ★ TANK COATINGS ★ ★ AND URETHANE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ WINDMILLS ★ ★ ★ ★ Available for ★ metal, shingle, or tar ★ ★ ★ roofs. Long lasting, ★ ★ easy to apply, brush ★ ★ ★ ★ or roll on this thick ★ ★ white coating. ★ ★ ★ ★ Call for our catalog. ★ ★ ★ We also manufacture ★ ★ ★ tank coatings and in ★ ★ hole windmill parts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ VIRDEN PERMA BILT CO. ★ ★ ★ 806/352-2761 ★ ★ ★ www.virdenproducts.com ★ ★ ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

V IRDEN PERMA-BILT

continued from page one

inflation. Under the current Act, attorney fees are capped at $125 per hour, but that hourly fee can be “adjusted” to a significantly higher amount. For example, in cases involving radical environ-

mental “non-profit” attorneys in California, attorney fees as high as $650 per hour have been paid although the statute caps the fee at $125 per hour. Originally Congress passed EAJA to put litigants back in the same place as they were prior to the litigation against the federal government.

The GLSA requires federal agencies to reduce awards made for "pro bono" work.

However, radical environmental groups can legitimately argue that prior to the ligation, they were paying their nonprofit attorneys $650 per hour.

Additionally, the GLSA caps the total attorneys fees reimbursement to $200,000 for a single action and allows no more than three awards in a calendar year. That should stop the litigation gravy train for groups like the Center for Biological Diversity who was involved in 770 federal court cases between 1999 and the May, 2011 according to research using the PACER data base.

Importantly this reimburse-

I am/our organization is committed to protecting the open spaces, private property, private businesses and ensuring the responsible use of public lands.

Please list me/my organization as a member of the Western Legacy Alliance.

I have included my membership dues and my $____________ additional contribution.

■

Association Membership $500

■

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Corporate Membership $1,000

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Organization: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________ City: __________________________ State: ___________

■

Other $____________

RECEIPT OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE WLA: The Western Legacy Alliance thanks you for your contribution!

Amount: $

Zip: _____________________ Phone: _________________________________ Fax: _______________________________

Cash:

Email: _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Check#:

LP —

YOU CAN HDEAY! JOIN TO

ment cap does not apply to individuals who have suffered a direct and personal monetary interest at the hands of an overreaching bureaucracy.

Third, the GLSA requires reporting of all taxpayer moneys paid out in attorneys fees, including those money paid in

If the compensation for the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council is $432,959.000, do they really need citizens funding their litigation against the American government?

Western Legacy Alliance Research Spurs Congressional Action on Exposing Taxpayer Funded Lawsuit Racket of Radical Environmentalists

Individual Membership $25

July 15, 2011

confidential settlement agreements or consent decrees. In approximately 10.5 percent of the cases polled, the amount of money paid to environmental groups for attorneys fees is not disclosed to the public.

Shouldn’t the public know how much of its money is being funneled to radical groups through attorneys fees payments?

Fourth, the GLSA requires federal agencies to reduce the awards made for “pro bono” work and does not allow attorneys fees to be paid in cases where the litigator either acts in bad faith or tries to delay the litigation just to rack up attorneys fees.

bill, our work is just beginning.

Out of 435 members of the United States House of Representatives, only 18 have cosponsored this bill with Wyoming’s representative Cynthia Lummis.

The cosponsors are Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-1); Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA-5); Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-2); Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-3); Rep. Don Young (AK); Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-3); Rep. Jeff Denham (CA19); Rep. Michael Conaway (TX-11); Rep. Denny Rehberg (MT); Rep. Mike Coffman (CO6); Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-2); Rep. Devin Nunes (CA-21); Rep. Kristi Noem (SD); Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5); Rep. John Duncan, Jr. (TN-2); Rep. Steve Pearce(NM-2); Rep. Wally Herger (CA-2); Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ-6); and Rep. Greg Walden (OR-2). Please contact your Congressman and request that they cosponsor H.R. 1996.

This bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, Lamar Smith Texas Chairman. It is important that this bill be aired in open public hearings so that America can voice its opinion on the spending of American tax dollars on litigation. Please urge Mr. Smith and your Congressional members to hold hearings on this bill.

Like so many other laws in

Over the years EAJA and the payment of attorney fees out of the Judgement Fund on Endangered Species Act and other litigation has been destorted beyond recognition.

Finally, this Act requires that the federal government account for the taxpayer money it spends on attorneys fees and that a searchable data base be created to allow the American citizens to have the ability to search how much money is being paid and to whom. The American taxpayer has a right to know how and to which groups and individuals their money is being spent.

However, accounting of the money spent on attorney fees has not occurred since 1995. Is it any wonder that this country is broke?

With the introduction of this

Mexican Truckers cerns about safety.

■ Mexico won a 2001 ruling allowing it to impose retaliatory tariffs, but it chose to keep talking with the Bush administration, resulting in a 2007 agreement on a similar pilot program.

■ Two years later, Congress cut off the financing, and Mexico responded with tariffs.

■ Under the new deal, Mexican truckers were able to apply for permits beginning July 7.

■ American officials estimate that the first trucks could roll across the border

this country, the original idea of the federal government reimbursing individuals and small businesses who have to fight against overreaching bureaucracy is noble. But like many original ideas, over the years EAJA and the payment of attorney fees out of the Judgment Fund on Endangered Species Act and other litigation has been distorted beyond recognition. It is time to bring this Country back to its roots, cut the deficit spending and put American citizens back to work. I hope you will work to support the Governmental Litigation Savings Act.

continued from page five

next month.

Like foreign airlines, Mexican truckers will be allowed to carry goods to and from destinations in the United States but not within the country.

They must comply with American safety standards, and are subject to additional safeguards including electronic monitoring to ensure that they take regular breaks from driving. They also must pass drug screening and demonstrate an ability to speak English.

Source: Binyamin Appelbaum, “U.S. and Mexico Sign Trucking Deal,” New York Times, July 6, 2011.

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

July 15, 2011

Page 9

The Ranchers: Come Home America

“I

’m worried that most Americans have forgotten about the most sacred values and traditions that built our country. Taking care of the land and the animals, the water and the air – this is the heart and soul of agriculture in America. We need to tell our story or we’ll be legislated and regulated out of business.”

— Linda Davis, CS Cattle Company, Cimarron, N.M. n late 2009, a loosely knit group of 15 ranchers came together in a groundswell of passion and action that is now known as The Ranchers.

The group has no by-laws. They don’t collect dues or give out membership cards. They are simply agriculturalists on a mission to be sure that the range livestock industry and way of life gets a fair shake in Washington, D.C. and in our various states.

They do not intend to replace or compete with mainstream cattle, beef and other organizations; instead they want to augment their fine work.

During the last week in March 2011 The Ranchers quietly entered the beltway of Washington, D.C. and in three days time visited some 20 congressional, senate and committee

I

offices from North Carolina to Washington state. The group was comprised of 15 people, including members and families from Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.

For this first outing they took on the issues of tranmission lines, government funded environmental litigation that is driving ranchers from the land, federal lands grazing and the sustainability of rural communities. Those making the trip included Frank and Karen BuddFalen along with their children Isaac and Sara, Wyoming; Terry Stuart Forst, President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association; Brad and Andrea Hutchinson, Oklahoma; Joe and Louise Leathers, 6666 Ranch, Texas; Dennis Braden and Suzette Suazo, Swenson Land & Cattle

Digest

Classifieds

To place your Digest Classified ad here, contact MICHAEL WRIGHT at michael@aaalivestock.com or by phone at 505/243-9515, ext. 30

Auction Schools

Equipment

COME TRAIN WITH THE CHAMPIONS. Join the financially rewarding world of auctioneering. World Wide College of Auctioneering. Free catalog. 1-800/423-5242, www.worldwidecollegeofauctioneering.com.

Kaddatz Auctioneering & Farm Equipment Sales

BE AN AUCTIONEER – Missouri Auction School, world’s largest since 1905. Free CD and catalog. Call toll-free 1-800/8351955, ext. 5. www.auctionschool.com.

www.kaddatzequipment.com • 254/582-3000

LEARN AUCTIONEERING for the 2000s!

Nashville Auction School “Free Catalog” 800/543-7061, learntoauction.com, 112 W. Lauderdale St., Tullahoma, TN 37388.

NEW HOLLAND pull type bale wagons: 1033, 104 bales, $5,100; 1034, 104 bales, unloads both ways, $4,400; 1044, 120 bales, $3,700; 1063, 160 bales, $10,800; 1010, 56 bales, $1,200. Also have self propelled wagons. Delivery available. 785/ 336-6103, www.roederimp.com.

g•u•i•d•e All Breeds

PerformanceTested Bulls SPRING AND FALL

RED ANGUS

Sell More Bulls!

To list your herd here, call MICHAEL WRIGHT at call 505/243-9515, ext. 30, or email michael@aaalivestock.com.

Livestock Haulers

DANE STUHAAN (CA) 559/688-7695 • Cell (NE): 559/731-7695

LIVESTOCK HAULING California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho & Nebraska

WE OFFER A COMPLETE LINE OF LOW VOLUME MIST BLOWERS.

•

509/488-2158

angus

Bell Key Angus Dennis Boehlke 208/467-2747 Cell. 208/989-1612

A few Choice Bulls Available at Private Treaty. NAMPA, IDAHO BRANGUS

R.L. Robbs FOR FREE BROCHURE CONTACT:

Swihart Sales Co. 800/864-4595 or 785/754-3513 7240 County Rd. AA Quinter, KS 67752 www.swihart-sales.com

A SOURCE FOR PROVEN SUPERIOR RED ANGUS GENETICS 14298 N. Atkins Rd., Lodi, CA 95240

Jeff Schmidt

Motor Models Available

Excellent for spraying, cattle, livestock, vegetables, vineyards, orchards, nurseries, mosquites, etc.

The Ranchers with Texas Rep. Mike Conaway

209/727-3335

New and used tractors, equipment, parts and salvage yard.

Equipment POWDER RIVER LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT. Best prices with delivery available. CONLIN SUPPLY CO. INC., Oakdale, CA. 209/847-8977.

Company, Texas; Minnie Lou Bradley, Bradley 3 Ranch, Texas; Johnna Bruhn, Logan, N.M.; Linda Davis, CS Ranch, N.M.; and Caren Cowan, New Mexico Stockman and New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association.

Some quick math indicated that just that small group of individuals on the trip represented more than 6.5 centuries of livestock production in the West and produce the beef protein needs of more than 500,000 people every year.

— America does not have to make a choice between a healthy environment and a strong economy; American agriculture provides both, every day!

HEREFORD

ART

Washington’s Oldest Source of Herefords

FAMILY

“SINCE 1938” Selling Range Bulls in Volume (Top Replacement Heifers)

SCHUSTER CLAY SCHUSTER 509/773-5089 Home 541/980-7464 Cell

GOLDENDALE, WA 99620

LIMOUSIN

Running Creek Ranch 2-year-old Bulls Proven Genetics, Range Ready WE SELL OVER 250 HEAD ANNUALLY.

520/384-3654

JOE FREUND 303/840-1850 (H), 303/341-9311

4995 Arzberger Rd. Willcox, Arizona 85643

JOEY FREUND, 303/841-7901 PAT KELLEY, 303/840-1848 E LI Z ABE TH, C OLORADO 80107

SANTA GERTRUDIS

Santa Gertrudis Breeders International Executive Director, John Ford

Red & Tender

By Design

P.O. Box 1257 Kingsville, Texas 78364 361/592-9357 361/592-8572 fax

www.santagertrudis.ws Shorthorn AMERICAN SHORTHORN ASSOCIATION 877/274-0686 8288 HASKELL ST., OMAHA, NE 68124 W W W. SHORTHORN. ORG I NFO@ SHORTHORN. ORG

Livestock Market Digest

Page 10

Riding Herd continued from page one

keeping with our society’s current beliefs about private property rights, jobs and the power of our government to destroy people’s lives.

Here’s a trivia question for you. What is our National Flower? I’ll admit that I didn’t know we had one, but it’s the rose.

Now how do you think that makes the delicate and dainty daisy or the pleasant and perishable pansy feel? It’s simply wrong to single out a single flower like that. We should probably also do away with the National Tree, and if the Forest

Service continues it’s “let-it-burn” philosophy, they’ll take care of that for us.

I cannot find anywhere that we have a National Dog and with our country’s citizens being so dog-crazy I propose that we get one. From the pound, of course. When you look at our leadership at every level of government I think our National Dog should be a German Shepherd. After all, they are often used to lead the blind.

According to my 1965 almanac our motto is, “In God We Trust,” which is appropriate because only a higher power can get us out of the mess we’re in.

Considering our concern about the environment, global warming and the

July 15, 2011

power of the Sierra Club, perhaps we should add a word, “In Green Gods We Trust.” Other mottos worthy of our consideration would be, In The Printing Press We Trust, or, In Big Business We Trust. The most accurate motto for our country would be “Made in China” because it’s already printed on everything anyway.

I think we can all agree that our national anthem is way too hard for most of us to remember, or to sing. It has been butchered by celebrities for years at ball games, so I suggest changing it to something simpler, like an anthem from my youth: Louie Louie. I think there are only two words in the

whole song and everyone should be able to remember them.

We should change our national language to Spanglish, our day of Independence so it always falls on a threeday shopping weekend, and our nation’s capital from Washington, D.C. There are just too many criminals in that town.

And I’m just talking about the Congressmen.

Finally, I’m proposing a new Pledge of Allegiance: “I pledge allegiance to the Internet and to Google, Facebook and Twitter for which it stands, one world, incorporated with broadband access, lap band surgery and medical insurance for all.”

THE LIVESTOCK MARKET DIGEST

Ordway

Cattle Feeders LLC COMMERCIAL FEEDLOT

Real Estate GUIDE To place your listings here, please call MICHAEL WRIGHT at 505/243-9515, ext. 30, or email michael@aaalivestock.com

Capacity 55,000 Cattle & Feed Financing Available TYLER KARNEY, MANAGER 19424 HWY. 96, ORDWAY, CO. 81063 • 719/267-3551

INTEREST RATES AS LOW AS 3%. PAYMENTS SCHEDULED ON 25 YEARS

Missouri Land Sales

See all my listings at:

paulmcgilliard.murney.com ■ Horse Training / Boarding Facility: New, state-of-the-art, 220x60 horse facility with 20 stalls, back to back, offset with bull pen at end of the barn.Two large pipe outside paddocks. 3-4 BR, 3 BA, 2,000+ sq. ft. home. All on 18+ acres. Just 5 miles north of I-44 Bois D’Arc exit. MLS #1017424. Call Paul for your private showing.

Cell: 417/839-5096 ■ 675 Ac. Grass Runway, Land your own plane: Major Price Reduction. 3 BR, 2 BA 1-800/743-0336 home down 1 mi. private land. New 40x42 shop, 40x60 livestock barn, over 450 ac. in MURNEY ASSOC., REALTORS grass. (Owner runs over 150 cow/calves, 2 springs, 20 ponds, 2 lakes, consisting of 3.5 & 2 ac. Both stocked with fish. Excellent fencing. A must farm to see. MLS #1010371 SPRINGFIELD, MO 65804 ■ 483 Ac., Hunter Mania: Nature at her best. Don’t miss out on this one. Live water (two creeks). 70+ acres open in bottom hayfields and upland grazing. Lots of timber (marketable and young) for the best hunting and fishing (Table Rock, Taney Como and Bull Shoals Lake) Really cute 3-bd., 1-ba stone home. Secluded yes, but easy access to ForsythBranson, Ozark and Springfield. Property joins Nat’l. Forest. MLS#908571

PAUL McGILLIARD

Affordable Ranches in Southeast New Mexico

BERRY LUCAS 575/361-7980 berryc_lucas @yahoo.com

JOE STUBBLEFIELD & ASSOCIATES 13830 Western St., Amarillo, TX 806/622-3482 • cell 806/674-2062 Michael Perez Assocs.

Nara Visa, NM • 575/403-7970

For advertising contact, MICHAEL WRIGHT Michael brings with him four generations of the range livestock industry and a keen awareness of the issues facing ranchers and rural economies today.

505/243-9515, ext. 30 michael@aaalivestock.com

LH

FREEZE BRANDERS

Made of Solid Brass For more information on our electric dehorners and other livestock branding equipment, please write, call or visit our website listed below.

This super cold brander, when applied to an animal, turns the hair white or colorless in the design of the brand, making it easily read from any distance.

Numbers available in 1" thru 6" size.

Most custom designs available.

L-H BRANDING IRONS P.O. Box 639 • Mandan, ND 58554 • 800/437-8068 www.lhbrandingirons.com

Call Me For All Your Farm and Ranch Listings

Southwest New Mexico Farms and Ranches 26.47 Acre farm for sale off Shalem Colony Road on Coral Road. Borders the Rio Grande river. 13.55 acres EBID water rights/full ground water rights. $380,000.

WAHOO RANCH: Approximately 40,976 acres: ± 11,600 deeded, 6,984 BLM, 912 state, 40 uncontrolled and 21,440 forest. Beautiful cattle ranch located on the east slope of the Black Range Mountains north of Winston, N.M., on State Road 52. Three hours from either Albuquerque or El Paso.The ranch is bounded on the east by the Alamosa Creek Valley and on the west by the Wahoo Mountains ranging in elevation from 6,000' to 8,796'. There are 3 houses/2 cabins, 2 sets of working corrals (1 with scales) and numerous shops and outbuildings. It is very well watered with many wells, springs, dirt tanks and pipelines. The topography and vegetation is a combination of grass covered hills (primarily gramma grasses), with many cedar, piñon and live oak covered canyons as well as the forested Wahoo Mountains. There are plentiful elk and deer as well as antelope, turkey, bear, mountain lion and javelina (47 elk tags in 2010). Absolutely one of the nicest combination cattle/hunting ranches to be found in the Southwest.

Price reduced to $5,500,000.

MAHONEY PARK: Just 10 miles southeast of Deming, N.M. The property consists of approx. 800 acres Deeded, 560 acres State Lease, and 900 acres BLM. This historic property is located high up in the Florida Mountains and features a park like setting, covered in deep grasses with plentiful oak and juniper covered canyons. The cattle allotment would be approx. 30 head (AUYL). Wildlife includes deer, ibex, javalina, quail and dove. This rare jewel would make a great little ranch with views and a home site second to none. Price reduced to $550,000.

SAN JUAN RANCH: Located 15 miles south of Deming, N.M. east of Highway 11 (Columbus Highway) on CR-11.

Approximately 24,064 acres consisting of approximately 2684 acres Deeded, 3240 State Lease, 13,460 BLM, and 4,680 uncontrolled. The cattle allotment would be approx. 183 head (AUYL). There are 6 solar powered stock wells with metal storage tanks and approximately 6-1/2 miles pipeline. The ranch has a very diverse landscape consisting of high mountain peaks, deep juniper & oak covered canyons, mountain foothills and desert grasslands. There is plentiful wildlife including deer, ibex, javalina, quail and dove. A truly great buy! Price reduced to $550,000.

26.47-ACRE FARM for sale off Shalem Colony Road. Borders the Rio Grande river. 13.55 acres EBID water rights/26 acres water rights. $380,000.

212 ACRE FARM BETWEEN LAS CRUCES, N.M. AND EL PASO, TEXAS: Hwy. 28 frontage with 132 acres irrigated, 45 acres sandhills, full EBID (surface water) plus a supplemental irrigation well, cement ditches and large equipment warehouse. Priced at $1,629,000.

50.8-ACRE FARM: Located on Afton Road south of La Mesa, NM. Paved road frontage, full EBID (surface water) plus a supplemental irrigation well with cement ditches. Priced at $12,000/acre.

OTHER FARMS FOR SALE: In Doña Ana County. All located near Las Cruces, N.M. 8, 11, 26, 27 and 63 acres. Starting at $12,000/acre. All have EBID (surface water rights from the Rio Grande River) and several have supplemental irrigation wells. If you are interested in farm land in Doña Ana County, or ranches in Southwest N.M., give me a call.

SOLD

DAN DELANEY R E A L E S TAT E , L L C www.zianet.com/nmlandman

318 W. Amador Ave., Las Cruces, N.M. 88005 (O) 575/647-5041 • (C) 575/644-0776 nmlandman@zianet.com

July 15, 2011

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

Page 11

■ JACKSON CREEK: Approximately 2,398 deeded acres – 490± irrigated meadows – plus

RANCH SALES & APPRAISALS SERVING THE RANCHING INDUSTRY SINCE 1920

Chas. S. Middleton and Son 1507 13th ST. • LUBBOCK, TEXAS 79401

(806) 763-5331

BLM & USFS leases – rated at 430 MOTHER COWS plus replacements and bulls – 15 HD. HORSE PERMIT – Harney County, OR – 3 year long creeks through ranch, large spring and potable artesian well – LANDOWNER HUNTING TAGS, 4 deer and 4 elk – comfortable improvements, private HQ’s, last year long ranch in upper Otis Valley – back dropping against rugged BLM and USFS lands – owner/agent – $2,450,000 ■ LANDRETH: Approximately 797 deeded acres – 35 irrigated crop – 135 irrigated pasture – balance, dry grazing – livestock/recreation property – rates at approximately 100 – 125 animal units year long or great stocker unit on seasonal basis – approximately 1/2-MILE MALHEUR RIVER thru ranch – upland game birds, waterfowl, mule deer and bass ponds – LANDOWNER HUNTING TAGS, 2 deer – quality, clean improvements – Malheur County, OR – $990,000 – priced below appraisal ■ P BAR: Approximately 11,750 deeded acres – 300 irrigated – plus BLM & State leases –

rated at 1,300 AU’s – WINTER PERMIT for 900 hd. – one contiguous unit for easy drift – 1,000 hd. feedlot to wean and/or back ground calves – 3 homes – numerous outbuildings and livestock facilities – Malheur County, OR – possibly the lowest $$ operating ranch on the NW real estate market – $6,000,000 ■ LINSON CREEK: 1,938 deeded acres plus 892 AUM’s BLM – WINTER PASTURE for

Place your Real Estate ad in the 2011 FME (Including the DIGEST 25)

✴ Special Real Estate section ✴ Full-color, high-gloss magazine with internet visibility ✴ Appears on the internet for 12 full months after publication ✴ www.aaalivestock is the top-ranking website in the Yahoo and MSN search engines

Capulin Ranch, Separ, N.M.: 21,640 acres total, 7,785 deeded acres and 13,835 leased acres.

350 auyl operation has 8 pastures, 2 traps, 10 wells and drinkers. HQ home is southwest style with pool, 2 bedroom Foreman’s home, equipment garage, 2 rail cars, working pens pipeline and digital scales all in working order. Priced at $4,000,000

approximately 300 hd. – 11/1 – 5/10 – will generally feed about 1/2-ton hay – CHUKAR, QUAIL, PHEASANT, MULE DEER, ELK – FISHING FOR BLUE GILL, BASS AND TROUT – modest improvements – Washington County, ID – $1,475,000 – Terms ■ JUNIPER: 155 deeded acres – 74 irrigated – offering a premier close in wildlife/hunting

property – PHEASANT, QUAIL, TURKEY, MULE DEER, VARMINTS, BLUE GILL AND BASS – recently remodeled 3 BR, 2BA, 1,645 sq. ft. home – outbuildings – neat, clean and well cared for – Malheur County, OR – $545,000 ■ REATA RIDGE: 560 deeded acres accessing several thousand acres federal lands – 3,000' executive home with lots of extras – horse barn, office, gym, shop, machine shed, covered horse runs, roping/riding arena – LANDOWNER HUNTING TAGS, 2 mule deer – Malheur County, OR – $995,000 – owner agent

La Cueva Ranch, Las Vegas, N.M.: 3,519 deeded acres on Apache Mesa Caves, rimrock views, canyons, springs and tall pines. Smaller parcels available too. Priced at $1,780,000.

Trementina, N.M.: 1,450 deeded acre ranch has perimeter fences and cross fences, has water great views and a great price.

Anton, Chico, N.M.: 65-acre farm has water rights, irrigation equipment, 2 residences, sheds and farm equipment all ready to go. Priced at $698,900.

■ FARM/FEEDLOT: 500 deeded acres with about 280 irrigated – CAFO at 850-1,000 head –

good improvements – great for stockers and/or dairy heifers – Malheur County, OR – $1,580,000

AGRILANDS Real Estate

Ken Ahler Real Estate Co., Inc.

www.SantaFeLand.com 1435 S. St. Francis Drive, Suite 210 • Santa Fe, N.M. 87505 O: 505/989-7573 • Toll Free: 888/989-7573 • M: 505/490-0220 E-mail: kahler@newmexico.com

www.agrilandsrealestate.com Vale, Oregon • 541/473-3100 • jack@fmtcblue.com

www.aaalivestock.com

WANTED

CATTLE RANCH 300-500 HEAD PERMIT WITH AT LEAST 10 DEEDED ACRES GOOD WATER A PLUS GERRY DUCHSCHERER AT 928-202-6921

BUD CRAWLEY REAL ESTATE

PROUDLY SERVING ARIZONA SINCE 1910

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES • Magnificent 90 Hunting – Cattle/Horse Ranch 50 miles E. of Dallas, 35 miles W. of Tyler, White pipe fence along FM Hwy. 3,700 sq. ft. elaborate home, flowing waterway, lake. Has it all.

• 532-acre CATTLE & HUNTING, NE TX ranch, elaborate home, one-mile highway frontage.

OWNER FINANCE at $2,150/ac.

• 274 acres in the shadow of Dallas. Secluded lakes, trees, excellent grass. Hunting & fishing, dream home sites. $3,850/ac.

• 1,700-acre classic NE TX cattle & hunting ranch. $2,750/ac. Some mineral production.

• Texas Jewel, 7,000 ac. – 1,000 per ac., run cow to 10 ac.

• 256 Acre Texas Jewel – Deep sandy soil, highrolling hills, scattered good quality trees, & excellent improved grasses. Water line on 2 sides rd., frontage on 2 sides, fenced into 5 pastures, 5 spring fed tanks and lakes, deer, hogs & ducks. Near Tyler & Athens. Price $1,920,000.

• 146 horse, hunting cattle ranch N. of Clarksville, TX. Red River Co. nice brick home, 2 barns, pipe fences, good deer, hogs, ducks, hunting priced at $395,000.

• 535 ac. Limestone, Fallas, & Robertson counties, fronts on Hwy. 14 and has rail frontage water line, to ranch, fenced into 5 pastures, 2 sets, cattle pens, loamy soil, good quality trees, hogs, & deer hunting. Priced at $2,300 per ac.

Joe Priest Real Estate 1205 N. Hwy 175, Seagoville, TX 75159

972/287-4548 • 214/676-6973 1-800/671-4548 www.joepriest.com joepriestre@earthlink.com

Texas Panhandle Ranch: 12,408 acres southeast of Amarillo in the heart of the rugged Palo Duro Canyon. This ranch has excellent access with paved highway frontage. The property has been under the same family ownership since 1929. This scenic ranch has over 3 miles of the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River. The south portion of the property is located on the elevated plains, with dramatic views of the colorful canyon country. The ranch is watered by windmills, electric wells, waterlines with drinking troughs and the river. If you are in the market for a rugged Palo Duro Canyon Ranch, loaded with game, with excellent access and unbelievable scenery, this property deserves your immediate attention. Priced at $675 per acre with some minerals.

Texas Panhandle Ranch: 71,059 acres located northwest of Amarillo, Texas. The centerpiece of the ranch is approximately 29 miles of the scenic Canadian River, which essentially runs through the center of the property.

The terrain varies dramatically from elevated mesas descending to deep canyons and wide fertile creek bottoms.

The property is extremely well improved and very well watered by the river, springs, creeks, and many water wells.

Major improvements include a 7,000 square foot owner’s home, 4,500 foot paved landing strip, hand houses, dog kennels, and many extras. The ranch offers some of the best mule deer, whitetail, turkey and quail hunting to be found. Two state record deer have been harvested in recent years, and elk are now coming down the river out of New Mexico. This property has a colorful history and a carefully planned Conservation Easement is in place. This ranch has it all. $475 per acre.

UNDER CONTRACT

Southeast Colorado Cattle Ranch: 12,383 deeded acres together with 640 acres of Colorado State Lease and a Comanche National Grasslands Permit to graze an additional 183 animal units for five months. The terrain varies from gently rolling open plains country to high elevated mesas and rugged mesa side slopes. Elevations vary from 5,800 feet to over 6,700 feet. As the country transitions from the open plains to the mesa tops the ranch has a fairly dense canopy of juniper, piñon, oak, and scattered ponderosa pine, which offers excellent habitat for turkey, mule deer and elk. Water quality is good and the ranch is exceptionally well watered and adequately improved with functional headquarter improvements including housing, barns and pens. This operating ranch is realistically priced at $425 per deeded acre with the lease and permit being transferred to an approved buyer.

East-Central New Mexico Cattle Ranch: 60,400 deeded acres with approximately 6,000 acres of leased and free use land. The ranch is located near Santa Rosa and historical stocking rates indicate a carrying capacity of 1,200 – 1,300 animal units. The ranch has a rolling to hilly terrain with a small amount of canyon country. The property is watered by natural lakes, submersible wells, windmills and an extensive waterline network. Improvements include a nearly new Spanish style hacienda, two camps and several good sets of livestock pens. $240 per deeded acre.

Descriptive brochures available on all ranches.

Chas. S. Middleton and Son

www.chassmiddleton.com • 1507 13th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79401 • 806/763-5331

Livestock Market Digest

Page 12

A Letter . . .

Politically Correct Terrorism n June 22, 2011 President Obama made one of the most profound statements since taking office.

While making a speech in the White House telling the American people about his commitment to protect the Homeland against what he called “the cancer of violent extremism” he said, and I quote, “for let there be no doubt that so long as I am President, the United States will never tolerate a safe haven for those who aim to kill us; they cannot elude us nor escape the justice they deserve.”

Brav0 — that’s the kind of tough talk I like coming out of the man whom I am suppose to look up to and revere as my leader. Too bad it’s not the truth.

In southeastern Arizona, since February of 2011, there have been no less than 10 fires that local residents say were started by illegal aliens coming out of Mexico. All these fires have been started in remote areas on trails that are used solely by Mexican drug smugglers.

Although the media has not reported it several illegal aliens have been apprehended who have admitted they started fires.

This has been deliberately played down by authorites. The Horseshoe II Fire burned down the entire Chiracahua Mountain range, burning a total of 350

O

square miles of forest and grassland, costing the American taxpayer 50 million dollars to fight.

The Monument Fire started on the Mexican border south of Sierra Vista. The area where this fire started is on the southern edge of the Huachuca Mountains on a major smuggler’s trail that became famous when filmed and put on YouTube with the title “Hidden Cameras on the Border.” This fire is significant because it is the first to do major damage to a large metropolitan area. Due to heavy winds and extremely dry weather the fire spread at an alarming rate, burning across mountain and plain and eventually destroying 60 or so homes and several businesses. Journalist Leo Banks wrote an excellent article in the Tucson Citizen on June 30, 2011 concerning this and the other fires mentioned. He quotes many local residents, some of whom are leaders in the community, and reports their views on whom and what caused these fires. Until the Monument Fire the reports that these fires were started by Mexican outlaws were by and large debunked by the media. High ranking federal employees such as U.S. Forest Service fire managers and district rangers along with upper echelon Border Patrol agents all have had the same pat answer when questioned about the origin of the

fires, “They are human caused and under investigation.”

Because of the huge property loss resulting from the Monument Fire in the form of expensive homes and businesses, more people are demanding some realistic answers.

All of the other fires burned nothing more valuable than a few million dollars in natural resources. A great many ranchers have been burned out of forage for their livestock but that’s of no great concern to anyone, after all ranchers are only in business to produce food for a hungry nation. This true story is a good example of the general public’s indifference to the ranching community. A friend of mine asked his young niece, “Where does the food you eat come from?” Her reply was, “Safeway.”

He went on, “Yes, but where does Safeway get it?” She replied, “From the back room!”

There is now less than 2 percent of the American population involved in agriculture and therefore a growing disconnect between the eater and the producer. The average American doesn’t know and isn’t concerned about the struggles the agriculture community faces.

Two percent is a very small voting block and therefore there isn’t much concern about a few hundred miles of burned up grassland.

The American rancher and farmer who lives on or near the Mexican border has taken almost all of the pain and destruction delivered by this invasion from the south. Because of the drug smugglers’ need to keep their smuggling routes in

FALL MARKETING EDITION “Digest 25” Top 10 Reasons To Advertise Deadline is August 1, 2011 . . . Reserve your space today, for placement and free directory listing — a $ 40 value with display ad. This issue will appear on the www.aaalivestock.com for 12 full months!

Contact your advertising representative, MICHAEL WRIGHT at: michael@aaalivestock.com or call 505/243-9515, ext. 30.

1. The Who’s Who in today’s Livestock Industry from the Midwest to the West 2. Featuring the Top 25 Leaders in the business 3. The LEE PITTS publication 4. Livestock Market Digest’s Annual And, #10 Directory by category! . . . we get 5. Special real estate section results!

6. Cattlemen and their supporters value the honesty of this publication 7. Visibility = profitability for your business 8. High-gloss magazine format with full color 9. We can build your ad

July 15, 2011 remote and hard to get to places they have stayed away from populated areas, and the people who live in cities have not witnessed first hand what is happening on large expanses of ranch land.

We send American men and women to fight and die in places like Iraq and Afghanistan all in the name of the war on terror.

When our generals say the job is ¾ complete we announce, months in advance, the date of our retreat; we do this to show how noble we are, and so the enemy will know he can regroup and come at us again.

Mr. Obama has now engaged our overburdened wallets in a conflict in Libya because he (Obama) says Libya’s dictator Muammer Qadafi is a man guilty of committing heinous crimes against his own people.

While we bankrupt ourselves doing this, our neighbor Mexico is in the process of butchering its own people at a rate and style of which even Attila or Hitler would be jealous. The crimes against humanity that occur 25 miles south of my house on a daily basis are so violent and disgusting they are hard to describe. The National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers put together what they call the M3 report which is posted on the internet every few days. In this M3 report are detailed reports of the carnage that is taking place in Mexico on a daily basis. More people have been murdered (30,000 plus) in northern Mexico in the last four years by the Mexican drug cartels than have been killed in all the wars in the Middle East. This includes all violent acts committed by Muammer Qadafi. These are turf wars that rival cartels wage against one another to see who gets the best routes to export the violence north.

While all this goes on Obama is silent, except for the occasion he took time out of his busy schedule of golf and campaigning to visit El Paso. As he stood a mere rifle shot away for Ciudad, Juarez arguably the most violent city on the planet, he made shallow remarks about a mote filled with alligators (no pun intended). Qadafi gets bombed, but Calderon, who is nothing more than a gangster himself, receives a standing ovation in front of a joint session of Congress.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle court the so-called Hispanic vote and seem to think that all Mexican-Americans are open border advocates, but it is generally agreed that the Democrats have the upper hand.

It is my belief that there is a great miscalculation concerning this, I know a great many American patriots with Hispanic surnames who are tired of being stereotyped as being pro amnesty and open border. These people are no more Mexican than I am English.

Many local people in this area are disgusted with the automatic denial from federal officials about illegal aliens being responsible for starting the fires. Across the board high ranking Forest

Service and Dept. of Homeland Security officials refuse to blame the illegals. If you consider what has happened to other government officials, especially anyone in law enforcement, who has spoken his mind and in doing so challenged the Obama agenda you begin to understand the pat answer, “They are human caused and under investigation.”

Recently, Vince Cefalu, a highly decorated and experienced ATF agent with many years of service and nothing negative on his record was fired by Obama after he (Cefalu) spilled the beans and went public with details about Obama’s ill fated project “Gunrunner” which is turning into the most embarrassing scandal of Obama’s Presidency. Little wonder that someone like Coronado National Forest District Ranger Bill Edwards deliberately steers away from the illegal alien issue.

As time goes on an ever increasing load of evidence shedding light on the violence coming north out of Mexico is straining the back of the federal government. An increasing number of people are realizing that we don’t just have some workers slipping across the line. What is happening on our southern border is terrorism just as sure as the events that took place on 9/11. Anyone who has done a little research knows that the Mexican drug cartels have connections and are doing business with Hamas, Hezbollah and other Islamic extremists, vast areas of what is supposed to be a sovereign United States are now being controlled by Mexican drug cartels.

Our turbulent problems on the Mexican border and our President’s refusal to deal with them are only one example among many of what seems to be a deliberate disconnect with reality. With his comments on June 22, bragging how he will not tolerate anyone who tries to kill us, Obama has painted himself into a box. Now he cannot admit that a Mexican drug smuggler could have started the numerous fires that have burned down 535 square miles in southern Arizona. That’s why he has been eerily silent about a tsunami of other violent and explosive events that have been connected to outlaws who cross our southern border every day. Though the Mexican drug cartels didn’t plan it, deserve it, or even see it coming they are the recipients of an immeasurable inheritance.

They have become in effect one of the most powerful and effective political lobbies in American history.

Yesterday we had a murder, today a fire, and tomorrow a suitcase nuke, or perhaps something more mundane like a few dismembered bodies who were first skinned alive, for this is the cartel’s torture of choice. One thing is for certain, Barack Obama, the supreme iconoclast, goes unchallenged by an indifferent Congress and therefore nothing is likely to change.

— Ed Ashurst Apache, Arizona