An analysis of western ranching politics brought to you by the PLC
RECENTLY, IN WASHINGTON…
In Congress, Bipartisan Opposition to Conservation Rule Grows
Earlier this month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a proposed rule that signals a potentially drastic shift in multiple-use management across 245 million acres of land. The rule, now open for comment through June 20, has a purported intent to promote conservation and restoration across the West. Several of its primary mechanisms for accomplishing this aim — elevating conservation as a “use” under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), establishing a conservation “leasing” system, and accelerating and expanding designations of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) – all pose a serious threat to multiple use.
PLC denounced the rule’s most concerning aspects, citing both the substantive threat to multiple use and the poor process that resulted in the development of a major rulemaking without any communication with impacted stakeholders.
Some members of Congress were also quick to speak up when the rule was published. Across Congress, members have condemned the process and expressed concerns that the rule will compromise long-term management strategies and will be mechanism for extremist groups to reduce or eliminate multiple use.
The fact that the draft rule is already drawing bipartisan criticism, is notable. PLC is leading engagement with Congress for committees to provide oversight, and strong action from Congress will undoubtedly bolster PLC’s position.
PLC will be leading industry comments as well as coordinating across a wide variety of multiple use groups. If you have questions, contact Kaitlynn Glover (kglover@beef.org).
DOI and USDA Tie Release of Old-Growth Forest Inventory to Climate Change Efforts
As part of today’s recognition of Earth Day, this week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) released a new inventory of mature and old-growth forests across the country. In the roll-out of the inventory, the Biden Administration hinted at possible future rulemakings to more closely tie forest management to their climate change goals, but stopped short of proposing any specific changes to management at this time. Based on what has been said so far, it is clear that keeping pace with prescribed burning, grazing on forest lands, and other urgently-needed active management are not a priority for this Administraiton.
Takeaways from the inventory announcement include:
- The mature and old-growth inventory identifies more than 110 million acres of BLM and USFS forests that warrant, in the administration’s view, specific protection because of their significance in fighting climate change.
- The administration has identified more than 2.3 million acres of public lands that are in need of reforestation.
- The vast majority of “old growth” forests are pinyon and juniper forests (approx. 9 million acres).
What are the red flags for PLC?
Forests do indeed function as carbon storage, and therefore reduce the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere — but that is true no matter how old a forest is, or where it’s located. The administration’s focus on old-growth forests as somehow more ecologically valuable is cherry-picked science, and it encourages a patchwork management strategy that prioritizes famous and more-travelled forests and neglects active management in the backcountry.
A preservation approach is a guaranteed recipe for more frequent, intense, and widespread wildfires — and those fires release a massive amount of carbon, in addition to all the other environmental and economic harm inflicted on rural communities.
Last but not least, PLC has concerns about the specific focus on pinyon-juniper landscapes in the administration’s discussion of conservation and reforestation. Pinyon-juniper encroachment gradually degrades and replaces sagebrush ecosystems by outcompeting native plant species, decreasing the soil water available, altering streamflow and surface water availability, and increasing fire risk. This encroachment harms many of the West’s most iconic species that depend on the sagebrush biome, including the sage grouse and ungulates like pronghorn. Any restriction or repeal of the currently active, commonsense pinyon-juniper management in the name of forest conservation would be a massive mistake for Western lands.
With Debt Ceiling Looming, Busy Spring Continues on Capitol Hill
After the Easter recess, lawmakers are back in Washington and packing the schedule with more legislative and budget hearings.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has been on the Hill already this spring to answer for the department’s FY24 budget request, but her hearing this week with the House Natural Resources Committee was her most contentious appearance yet. Chairman Westerman (R-AR) and other Republicans objected to many of the agency’s actions to reduce oil and gas development on public lands, fast track renewable energy development, and roll back improvements to the ESA that were made under the previous administration.
On the other side of the Capitol, the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee questioned Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on the agency’s budget request. Chairman Manchin (D-WV) and others called out the agency for its continued and widespread staffing shortage. The committee also dug into implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and whether USFS has done enough — particularly under good neighbor authority — to get those dollars out the door.
While the window for appropriations requests has been closed for a couple weeks now, expect federal spending to remain under the microscope over the coming weeks.
What about the debt ceiling?
Even though there is no shortage of other work to be done, this is the fight that is sucking all the oxygen out of the room for congressional Republicans right now. The federal government hit its current borrowing limit of $31 trillion in January, triggering a scramble to avoid defaulting on our national debt. The government is facing default as early as June.
This week, Speaker McCarthy finally released a draft Republican proposal that he has said will not make it to President Biden’s desk but will at least force Democrats to the negotiating table. The problem is that making it to the President is the least of McCarthy’s hurdles, as his current proposal might not even make it out of the House.
McCarthy’s current plan:
- Raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion or suspend the limit until March 31, 2024, whichever one comes first.
- Cut federal spending to FY22 levels, a massive reduction of about $130 billion.
- Limit any future increases to federal agency budgets to 1%.
- Implement stricter work requirements for nutrition programs like SNAP and healthcare programs like Medicaid.
- Reverse the increase to the IRS budget that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
- Gut various other measures that have already been passed during the Biden Administration, such as environmental spending under the IRA and unspent dollars from the infrastructure package.
Republicans’ concerns:
With opposition by every House Democrat guaranteed, he can only afford to lose four votes from House Republicans. The caucus has a variety of internal hurdles, including:
- Calls for stricter work requirements from the Freedom Caucus, the conservative hardliners who eventually budged to allow McCarthy to become Speaker (and who are now in a powerful position to make demands).
- Concern about forcing vulnerable Republicans to go on record backing such a severe proposal that’s guaranteed to fail when the spending cuts will hand Democrats plenty of campaign ammunition in swing districts.
- Regional worries, with no one area of the country wanting to bear the brunt of spending cuts. For example, the current provision to cut ethanol and biodiesel spending would disproportionately impact farm states in the Midwest.
Bottom line: McCarthy is up against very steep odds to rally his caucus behind a proposal that can pass his own chamber, the Senate, and secure President Biden’s approval all before the United States defaults in early summer.
2023 PLC Grant Process
NOW OPEN
On Tuesday, April 11, PLC began soliciting applications for FY24 grant awards related to strengthening public lands ranching. Research can be related to a number of topics, including:
- Comparative efficacies of prescribed grazing and prescribed fire in wildfire mitigation.
- Ecological, social, or economic impacts on federal lands ranching communities caused by from increased recreation or other changes in multiple use.
- Costs of implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
PLC awards grants for research to equip its staff with tools that will help the organization defend and advance the future of grazing on public lands. Through these grants, PLC works to improve conditions for those engaged in livestock grazing on public lands, improve industry products, and attain a higher degree of efficiency in the operation of PLC members’ businesses.
To view the full request for proposals, along with the grant application (due June 9), visit https://publiclandscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Final-RFP-FY2024.pdf
Join Our Team!
Seeking an Associate Director of Operations
Join our team in Washington, DC!
The Public Lands Council is hiring an Associate Director of Operations to join the Washington, DC office. This role also supports and assists the PLC Executive Director in communicating with PLC affiliates and managing the day-to-day business operations, as well as managing annual grants, sponsor relationships, and more:
Works with PLC staff to prepare and distribute yearly PLC affiliate dues invoices, process officer and staff expense reports, and manage other financial transactions.
Assists in planning national PLC meetings including logistics, budget, sponsorships, and agenda.
Assists the PLC Executive Director with the administration of the Public Lands Endowment Trust, including communication and coordination with grantees to ensure contracts are executed timely.
Actively engages with PLC volunteer leadership to book travel, organize agendas, and engage with other planning tasks.
This is a shared position with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Applications are OPEN! To learn more and apply, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3550560676/
Weather Blast
With volatile weather conditions across the West, knowing what’s coming next has never been more important. Our partners at AgRisk Advisors and WSR insurance want you to be able to plan for the (hopefully) greener days ahead with expert weather advice. Visit here to watch Weekly Weather Blast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hz4MkzsiYM
Thank you to our exclusive insurance partners, AgRisk Advisors and WSR Insurance for supporting this important feature! Their support of our industry and of all of you is never more important than when Mother Nature makes your job so much harder!
Weekly Cattle Market Report
Friday Live Cattle
Contract: April 2023
Last: 175.60
Open: 175.78
High: 177.70
Low: 175.18
Change: +1.33
Volume: 5,045
Friday Feeder Cattle
Contract: April 2023
Last: 202.33
Open: 203.60
High: 204.00
Low: 202.25
Change: +0.10
Volume: 2,195