Proposed Public Lands Rule

Protecting, Restoring, Making Wise Management Decisions

The proposed Public Lands Rule would establish a framework to ensure healthy landscapes, abundant wildlife habitat, clean water, and balanced decision-making on our nation’s public lands. It will ensure public lands and the resources they provide are available for future generations.

The Three Main Components of the Proposed Public Lands Rule

Protect the most intact, healthiest landscapes

Protect Intact Landscapes

Manage landscapes for wildlife habitat and clean water.

Designate Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)

Use this existing tool to protect and manage important landscapes for natural, cultural, scientific, and other values.

Use Conservation Leasing

Restore landscapes back to health

Restoration

Identify priority landscapes, develop restoration plans, and put people to work restoring America’s public lands.

Mitigation

When permitting development, avoid damaging lands, reduce damage where possible, and direct companies to offset damage when necessary.

Allow this tool for two uses: restoration and mitigation. Partners like conservation districts and sporting groups could lease public lands to make investments in restoration. Conservation leases could also be used to balance the impacts of development elsewhere.

Ensure wise decision making, based on science and data https://www.blm.gov/public-lands-rule

Make management decisions informed by the health of lands and waters using science and data. Expand land health assessments beyond the grazing program to all BLM-managed public lands. Ensure science drives decision making, by incorporating assessment, inventory, and monitoring information.

Reagan from page 4 further upon Dr. Catlett’s sentiment stating U.S. agriculture production is an important tool for helping to maintain peace throughout the world meaning full bellies are a great deterrent to world conflict.

I say all of this to drive home the point that the upcoming farm bill is vital to our national security. The farm bill is the vehicle that maintains a safe, abundant, affordable, and consistent food supply for us and the world. The commodity programs and the safety net provided by federal crop insurance keep our farmers and ranchers in business when disaster strikes whether it be drought, or storms, or price failures. The conservation programs help keep our land fertile for us and future generations by offering incentives for improvements that would otherwise be unaffordable for many of us in the ag community. It is imperative these programs stay connected to the nutrition program that is so important to so many people.

In addition to hearing from Chairman GT Thompson, we also heard from Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman and House Agriculture Ranking

Duvall from page 4 lands. On the surface, that term “strengthening stewardship” has a good ring to it. Ranchers are stewards of the land after all. They are on the frontlines, often the only folks for miles with eyes on the land and wildlife.

But this BLM proposal raises a lot of questions providing much time for ranchers to get answers. Many are concerned that by making conservation a new “use” and issuing conservation leases, vast areas could be shut down from public use altogether. The public comment period, which is only 75 days in total, closes on June 20. Usually, big changes like these take months to years of conversations with interested stakeholders and many public hearings to ensure a sustainable, workable solution for all.

Ranchers are delivering a return on the trust placed in them to care for public lands. They are clearing debris, spotting wildfire risks, and reporting other potential dangers to local law enforcement. Livestock grazing also brings overall health benefits to the land, from reducing wildfire risk and slowing the spread of invasive weeds to building robust root systems and spurring forage growth for native species. The University of Wyoming Extension crunched the most recent USDA Census numbers and found that for each pound of beef raised on public lands, Americans get $0.44 in ecosystem related returns.

So back to that BLM proposal. There are red flags both in policy and process from BLM. They are using vague language and coming up with their own new terms for public lands use. Ranchers don’t know what the impact will be on their current grazing leases or what happens when they are up for renewal. What’s more, there are some areas out West where the lines of public and private land look a bit like a checkerboard. So, if a rancher suddenly cannot graze or move their livestock across neighboring public lands, they will quickly be out of feed and out of business. Ranchers are already becoming an endangered species, if you will, out West with the rising cost of land and other challenges from water access to restrictions like these on public lands. One rancher out in Colorado, Chuck Haus, observed that in the region where he works with his in-laws, the number of ranch families is barely a third of what it was 30 or 40 years ago. throughout all home games. If you attend any of the Isotopes games, be sure to look for our ag facts. One example of the ag facts we are sharing is one cowhide provides 144 baseballs. This outreach effort continues to connect farmers and ranchers with our urban neighbors and share how many parts of their lives are impacted by New Mexico agriculture. It is especially important this year with the farm bill. We will be joined by several other agricultural groups for this game, and we hope to see you there.

Member David Scott. All of them indicated their commitment to passing a farm bill this year as the current farm bill expires in September. While in D.C., several of us from New Mexico were able to meet with our representatives, senators, or their staff members. All were committed to passing a new farm bill and most were receptive to our suggested changes and improvements to the current farm bill, so I am confident that a new farm bill will be passed this year with needed improvements. Farmers and ranchers have a unique opportunity to shape this crucial piece of agriculture policy. I encourage each of you to reach out to your representative and senator and encourage them to support the farm bill.

What makes this proposal even more of a tough pill to swallow is that ranchers have traditionally worked closely with BLM. It’s truly been a partnership, but ranchers were blindsided by this proposal. Western ranchers have been caring for the land for decades, if not centuries, for some families. Their work is critical not only to the nation, but also to their local, rural communities. A rule of this magnitude should provide the broadest opportunity for feedback, especially given the impact on those local communities.

Farm Bureau is actively engaging on this issue. We are urging BLM to extend the comment period, and we will submit comments highlighting our concerns on behalf of our rancher members. We are also working with members of Congress to pass legislation that would send BLM back to the drawing board. Most importantly, now is the time for BLM and lawmakers to hear directly from ranchers. Ranchers, I urge you to share your story, share your concerns and talk with your lawmakers about the benefits your work brings to the land.

Stewardship is truly strengthened when farmers and ranchers have the flexibility we need to do right by the land. Stewardship is strengthened when farmers and ranchers have access to tools and incentives that help bolster their sustainability practices. The BLM can and should do better.

Summer is a season of change from the routine and traditional parts of the year to something new and fresh that brings more flexibility and a different way of viewing the routine of life. New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau is in a season of change. We have several new staff members, new leadership, new programs and events on the horizon. One of our big changes coming this summer is updating and increasing leadership development opportunities with our county leaders. We are bringing back the regional trainings for county board members, and our field staff are working hard to bring these sessions to your local communities. We will host a county

Council of Presidents retreat in September and provide county presidents the opportunity to have specific training provided by American Farm Bureau staff to help them grow in their roles as well as assist them in developing their next generation of leaders. While we have all of the county presidents together, we are going to be moving the Resolutions Committee meeting to coincide with the retreat in September. Counties will still be able to submit late resolutions prior to the delegates meeting in November. This change will give both staff and counties time to review the resolutions and allow members more time to have a discussion on where the county stands on the resolutions so delegates can vote appropriately. This will better prepare both delegates and counties for the state annual meeting.

Even with the new and exciting opportunities to experience this summer in our organization, one thing doesn’t change and that is our mission to be the voice of agriculture and to continue to pursue the issues and priorities determined by our members and leadership.

Calling All Agvocates

C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H R E S O U R C E E D U C A T I O N

F r e e A g A d v o c a c y R e s o u r c e s G l e a n f r e e r e s o u r c e s d e s i g n e d t o s t r e n g t h e n y o u r a b i l i t y t o a d v o c a t e f o r a g r i c u l t u r e a n d n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s . B e i n s p i r e d t o l e a r n h o w e a s y i t c a n b e t o b e a n A G v o c a t e !

C o m m u n i t y N e t w o r k s

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