If you hold a Bureau of Land Management grazing permit, you know that the dates your livestock can graze specific allotments are pretty much set in stone. Sometimes the range of dates is broad enough to allow flexibility within them to change your timing of use to allow for some growing season rest when needed. Often though, those dates lack that flexibility and lock us in to grazing the same way every year.
I mean, it’s nice to be able to plan your work on a calendar but it’s definitely not the way to adapt to drought or other challenges we face. It’s been an ask of the land management agencies from your Association to find ways to afford us the flexibility we need to adapt.
I’m proud to report that a couple of tools are coming on line soon to help us change permits- temporarily or permanently- to adapt to drought and cheat grass on BLM permits. BLM Range team lead Kathryn Dyer along with individual Districts in Nevada have completed the first step- an environmental analysis and will be ready soon to field our requests. Your Association, along with the BLM and Nevada Department of Agriculture are hosting workshops to answer questions and discuss the types of flexibilities that have been analyzed and how to request drought or cheatgrass related adjustments. They will be held:
- Ely, Dec. 5, 3-5 p.m. at the Bristlecone Convention Center
- Elko, Dec. 7, 3-5 p.m. at the Western Folklife Center
- Winnemucca, Dec. 9, 3-5 p.m. at the Convention Center
- On-line virtual workshop, Dec. 13, 3-5 p.m.
Which is the week following our Annual Convention in Reno, can’t wait to see you there!
Jon Griggs, President, NCA