News Update
Feb. 22, 2011

PLC, NCBA, ASI Support Legislation Requiring Transparency in Monument Designation Process

The Public Lands Council (PLC), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and 28 other livestock groups sent letters supporting legislation to amend the Antiquities Act to require oversight in the national monument designation process. The legislation, S. 407 and H.R. 758, would require the administration to seek congressional approval before designating future monuments. It was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and 8 other senators and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and 19 other representatives. 

According to NCBA president, Bill Donald, the Antiquities Act was meant to protect “historic landmarks” and “objects of historic or scientific interest.” However, he said over the years, presidents have aggressively used the Antiquities Act to designate as monuments millions of acres of land across the western United States—much of it with unexceptional “historic or scientific” value. 

“The current monument designation process has resulted in across-the-board restrictions of multiple uses on these lands,” Donald said. “Activities such as livestock grazing are a historic part of our nation’s ‘multiple-use’ tradition on public lands, contributing to both healthy landscapes and thriving rural economies. It’s a tradition we hope to continue for generations to come.” 

The legislation would allow the president to designate only “the smallest area essential to ensure the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.” Additionally, the bills would establish procedures for the designation of monuments, including a public comment period; public hearings; and a report to Congress outlining the designation’s impact on the local economy, national energy security, and other uses associated with the land. All comments and analyses would be posted on the White House website. In order to take effect, proposed designations would require congressional approval within two years. Unapproved monuments could not be followed by repeat proposals. 

“When a president designates thousands upon thousands of acres of monuments, local stakeholders such as ranchers, who rely on the resources for their livelihoods, suffer huge economic losses,” said ASI President Margaret Soulen Hinson. “How can we allow such important decisions to be made without local and state input?” 

PLC President John Falen said, “Grazing is not only one of the multiple uses of federal lands that has made these areas so vibrant and beautiful — it’s an activity protected by laws, which are meant to allow our continued and sustainable access to an economic resource. Without the assurance of that access, our children will not be able to pick up the torch as stewards of our nation’s rangelands. These pieces of legislation will help protect that access and that tradition of stewardship.” 

— Release by NCBA.

ISU Extension to Offer 2011 Ag Market Outlook Seminars

Unpredictable weather patterns, volatile markets and rising input costs will undoubtedly challenge producers in 2011. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension, in partnership with Eldon C. Stutsman Inc.; Hills Bank and Trust Company; Latta, Harris, Hanon & Penningroth LLP; and Green Valley Ag & Turf are offering the 2011 Ag Market Outlook Seminars to provide producers with timely information to make the best decisions for their operations.

Two seminars are scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, in eastern Iowa. A breakfast seminar will be held in the lower level at Hills Bank and Trust Company, 3905 Blairs Ferry Road NE, in Cedar Rapids. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 8 a.m. with the program starting at 8:15 a.m. Parking will be available at River of Life Church.

The lunch seminar will be held at the Hills Community Center in Hills, with lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. with the program beginning at 12:30 p.m. Both programs are offered free of charge.

Ag Market Outlook program features

• Elwynn Taylor, ISU Extension climatologist — discussing the 2010 weather patterns and what may lie ahead in 2011
• Chad Hart, ISU Extension economist — sharing the latest supply and demand figures impacting the grain markets and providing 2011 price projections
• Shane Ellis, ISU Extension economist (speaking at the Hills site only) — discussing livestock production numbers, the impact of high grain prices and livestock market projections for the upcoming year

To pre-register for the Cedar Rapids meeting, RSVP to Elaine Blythe at 319-866-7022 or Elaine_Blythe@hillsbank.com. To pre-register for the Hills site, RSVP to Carrie Ebel at 319-358-2272 or Carrie_Ebel@hillsbank.com by Monday, March 7.

— Release by ISU Extension.

Predator workshop slated for March 29 in Edwards County

When cold weather hits, it seems a long way until spring, but it’s not too early to mark your calendars for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s Animal Predator/Wildlife Workshop set from 8 a.m. until noon March 29 in the Edwards County 4-H barns in Rocksprings.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available; one in laws and regulations and two in the general category.

“This workshop is meant to help producers plagued by livestock predators and the influx of feral hogs cope with these two growing problems, which in some areas are taking on almost epidemic proportions,” said Sam Silvers, Agrilife Extension agent in Edwards County.

“We’ll have speakers who deal with the problems on a daily basis, and who have firsthand knowledge of what’s going on and how to deal with it. I would encourage all landowners in our region to attend,” Silvers said. “But if you cannot, I do plan to post a video of the proceedings on our county AgriLife Extension website at some point.”

Speakers and their topics include:

• Trapping Demonstrations, Dano Stotts of Barksdale. Stotts serves Edwards County as a trouble shooter with Wildlife Services, a unit of of AgriLife Extension.
• Feral Hogs-New Programs on the Horizon, Garey Lee Silvers, feral hog specialist for Wildlife Services, Academy.
• “Wildlife Do’s and Don’t’s-How Predators Can Affect Wildlife Operations,” Dr. Jim Gallagher, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde.

For more information contact Silvers at 830-683-4310, gssilvers@ag.tamu.edu. Also, for more information or to view the future video, click on: http://edwards-tx.tamu.edu/.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Bankers say rural economy continues growth

The rural economy continues to grow with farmland prices and farm equipment sales continuing to climb, according to a survey of Midwest Bankers. Creighton University says the bankers see economic expansion for February but the pace of growth has slowed down somewhat.

The Rural Mainstreet Index, or RMI, which ranges from Zero to 100, declined to 55 in February from 59 in January, but still signifies growth. It compares to a much weaker reading of 36 in February of LAST year.

Creighton economist Ernie Goss credits global economic expansion, a cheap dollar and alternative energy production for pushing “the Rural Mainstreet economy into territory not experienced since the early 1970s.”

However, some of the bankers expect a correction and say higher input costs this year could mean overall growth for 2011 won’t be as good as 2010. Because of heavy cash flows, farmers have reduced their borrowing.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included.

— Release by the Brownfield Ag News Network.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.