Are We Being “Planned” Off Our BLM Lands

Remember the huge backlash in 2017 over the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Planning 2.0 regulations?” One of the major concerns was that the BLM could use those planning rules to eliminate all use by creating ambiguous standards for multiple use that were left to absolute agency discretion. There was so much outcry that Congress passed a bill (under the Congressional Review Act), which the President signed, repealing the BLM Planning 2.0 regulations.

Rather than learning its lesson, the BLM is at it again. While the BLM claims the 2023 proposed planning regulations are needed for “conservation and landscape health,” the proposed rules are no more than a thinly veiled elimination of economic use on BLM lands. While no one who relies on the use of the BLM lands wants to see environmental degradation, the proposed rules do nothing more than:

Ї 1. Create a whole new “multiple use” called “conservation use” which has no basis in statute (can you say “major questions doctrine” which the Supreme Court has used to strike down agency regulations that are outside their statutory authority);

Ї 2. Allow radical environmental groups to nominate and acquire “conservation leases” on BLM multiple use lands for purposes like “restoring public lands,” “providing mitigation for a ‘particular action’” or ensuring “resilient public lands” (whatever that means);

Ї 3. Eliminate valid existing rights that are not “compatible” with a conservation lease. Instead, the proposed rule states that the only use guaranteed on a conservation lease is “casual use,” which is defined as a non-economic use;

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4. Require the BLM to take the “precautionary approach” when authorizing land uses that may impair

“ecosystem resilience.” Given the proposed planning rule is based, in part, on Biden’s 30 x 30 and climate change Executive Orders (EO), doesn’t everything impair “ecosystem resilience” and contribute to climate change? Remember that Biden’s 30 x 30 EO opines that only land in its “natural state” meets the 30 x 30 requirements. Since this administration believes that ecosystem resilience is necessary to defeat climate change and only land in its natural state will meet the country’s climate goals, I am assuming that the protection of the natural state means no use of multiple use lands;

Ї 5. Extort money from those who are wealthy enough to pay “third party mitigation fund holders.” This seems like another easy way to send funds to radical environmentalist organizations with little to no public review;

Ї 6. Further slow down the permitting process for activities on BLM lands. Currently every metric shows that the BLM is woefully behind on completing term grazing permit renewals because of the monitoring and paperwork that has to be completed including completion of the Fundamentals of Land Health. Now imagine the backlog the BLM will have for its permit review, even for valid existing rights, as every use on the BLM lands has to go through a Fundamentals of Land Health review prior to authorization. Use of multiple use lands won’t stop because of concern over legitimate environmental harm; it will stop because the BLM simply does not have the money, manpower or time to complete the analysis (which appears to be the goal anyway).

The proposed rules also don’t mention any of the other statutes mandating use of BLM lands such as the Taylor Grazing Act, the Mineral Leasing Act and the 1872 Mining Law. While there is a long way to go before these proposed planning regulations are completed, looking at my crystal ball, I see a Congressional Review Act battle all over again. I just hope it will not be too late to save the family rancher who relies on the use of his grazing permit for his livelihood. ▫

Beef Classes For Nmsu Culinary Students

The New Mexico Beef Council (NMBC) Beef Team provided beef classes to the NMSU Hospitality, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM) culinary students on April 3 and 5th. There have been 11 beef classes given since spring of 2021 reaching over 300 students and faculty, along with visitors to the classes. Classroom instruction includes a combination of presentations, hands-on fabrication of beef primals/ sub-primals, grilling demonstrations and samplings of various cooked beef cuts. For this class, Jim Hill, NMBC Director and owner of a cow/calf and farming operation, visited with the students and provided an uplifting presentation on teamwork. They were given information taking them from “gate-toplate” as part of the overall class.

Students are given a number of resources including Beef Cookery, NAMI-The Beef Book and a “Beef in the Culinary Classroom” (BITCC) binder. Each of these resources are great additions to the student’s personal culinary library. The BITCC notebook, developed through the NMBC, provides beef information ranging from sustainability, meat inspection and beef production to cooking methods and health and nutrition. It is updated on an ongoing basis to ensure students receive the most current beef information.

A focus on the Beef Quality Assurance program and the connection with the foodservice industry plays a key role in educating culinary students. The theme is reflected in the resources they receive as part of the NMSU-HRTM 363, 2021 classes. 

2023 Stockmanship And Stewardship

The 2023 Stockman & Stewardship is a three-day event for beef producers that will be held May 10th12th in Farmington, NM at McGee Park. Producers will hear from world renowned stockmanship clinicians and from industry experts about herd health planning, cattle handling, and will have a chance to get (Beef Quality Assurance) certified. New Mexico State University, New Mexico Beef Council and other local and national sponsors are making this educational event possible for all NM, AZ, UT and CO producers. Register online by visiting either of these websites: Stockmanshipandstewardship.org and indianlivestock.nmsu.edu.

2024 National Bqa Awards

Nominations for the 2024 National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards are now being accepted. The Beef Quality Assurance Award recognizes individuals or businesses that have fully embraced the BQA philosophy and have applied innovative management practices to ensure production of high-quality beef. Awards are given to the following segments of the beef industry: Cow Calf, Feedyard, Marketer, Dairy and Educator. Nomination packets can be downloaded at www.BQA.org. Contact Grace Webb for more information.

Upcoming Events

May

10-12

Four Corners Stockman & Stewardship Conference (NMSU/NCBA/NMBC), McGee Park, Farmington

23-25

WALC Conference, Sheraton Uptown, Albuquerque

24-25

U.S. Meat Export Federation, Minneapolis, MN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Aces Open House A Huge Success

New Mexico State University College of Agriculture Consumer and Environmental Sciences Spring Open House was a huge success. The college opens its doors to welcome students, faculty and the public to learn about agriculture and the sciences and research taught at ACES, the Cooperative Extension Service, 4-H and the Ag Experimental Centers. Activities included: Animal exhibits, Lab and Museum tours, hands-on activities and demonstrations and free NM grown products for the whole family.

The New Mexico Beef Council and other partners sponsored the special day. Dina Reitzel, Executive Director, said “watching the children interact with the animals as they learn about where their food comes from is a valuable learning experience for children and adults alike”. 

Meet Your New Mexico Beef Council

DIRECTORS

Dina Chacon-Reitzel 505-841-9407

CHAIRPERSON Cole Gardner (Producer) 575-910-8952

Kimberly Stone is just finishing her first year on the Council and is enjoying learning about all the programs supported by the Checkoff. She was born and raised on her family’s ranch in Colfax/Harding County. Kimberly and her husband, Troy, operate a ranch in Capitan with their two sons, Eleck and Bryce. She received her Bachelors degree from New Mexico State University and her Masters at Colorado State University Global Campus. Kimberly is an NMCGA member and former board member as well as a member of the Corriente Cowbelles. In her free time, she volunteers for the Capitan Schools and is a board member of the Lincoln County Community Foundation. 

VICECHAIRPERSON

Dan Bell (Producer) 575-799-0763

SECRETARY

Marjorie Lantana (Producer) 505-860-5859

Sarah Fitzgerald (Feeder) 830-739-3450

NMBC DIRECTORS: Nancy Phelps, (Producer) 575-740-0957

John Heckendorn (Purebred Producer) 505-379-8212

Jim Hill (Feeder) 575-993-9950

Kimberly Stone (Producer) 202-812-0219

Joel Van Dam (Dairy Representative) 575-714-3244

Stone

BEEF BOARD DIRECTOR

Boe Lopez (Feeder) 505-469-9055

FEDERATION DIRECTOR Cole Gardner (Producer) 575-910-8952

USMEF DIRECTOR Kenneth McKenzie (Producer) 575-760-3260