Yep, that’s me, yelling at the radio. Some of you may wonder why I’m yelling at an inanimate object, but I suspect most of you have been there. I happened to catch a news piece about the announcement of this year’s fee for an Animal Unit Month paid by Public Lands Ranchers. It was no doubt promulgated by a shop of lawyers – I mean environmentalists – litigating their way to a bigger bank account – I mean better environment. The piece was filled with the usual half-truths but the part that had me back-talking said inanimate object was the statement that cheap fees mean that ranchers can afford to graze more cattle, thereby increasing the damage caused.
It’s not hard to know the truth that the number of AUM’s a rancher has to work with is limited by the land management agencies and pretty much set in stone. The total lack of any business sense to that statement though is what prompted my verbal tirade.
Your Association works hard to promote our industry and counter misconceptions, and we’re fortunate to have our Land Grant Universities providing us current science that proves the benefits of well-managed livestock grazing, thank you to CABNR at UNR for having our backs. There’s also a well-researched paper showing the true costs of an AUM too, I might add.
In cheerier news, The Great Basin Bull Sale proved to be a huge success and a really fun weekend in Fallon. Thanks to Jim and Jesse and the Rafter 3C crew for the beautiful facility and to Charlie and crew for a well-run sale with a great set of bulls. I’d much rather hear the excited shout of a ringman than my own dog-scaring holler at the radio.
Jon Griggs, President
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association