HM made the LA Times

[John Harper]

Article on cattle grazing in the GTW today in the LA Times. Let's hope the trout are more important than a few hundred cattle and corporate ranching operations.

John

[WanderingBlues]

Seems like it's who ever throws the most money to the policy makers. We'll see what happens.

[planettrout]

Article on cattle grazing in the GTW today in the LA Times. Let's hope the trout are more important than a few hundred cattle and corporate ranching operations.

John

Here is the link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 9371.story

PT/TB

[rayfound]

Not going to lie: The huge land-mines from grazing activities are not exactly welcome backcountry additions.

[RichardCullip]

The thing in the article that really jumped out at me was how little it costs the ranchers to run their cows up in the high meadows.

Three local families, including Hunter's, have permits to graze a total of 885 cows on the Kern Plateau. They pay $1.35 a month per cow, a rate that has not changed much in four decades. The calves running alongside their mothers are not counted.


The Forest Service collects about $1,200 a month (885 cows * $1.35/month) from the ranchers GTW allotment fees. What a bargain for the ranchers. It's my understanding that it takes about a ton of hay per month to feed a cow, so by grazing cows in the high country, the ranchers are avoiding buying tons of hay. I'm not sure exactly what hay is running for now days in the Owens Valley but it's probably btwn $250 and $300 per ton.

I'm bummed out by the fact that the Forest Service is selling the allotments so cheaply. The least they could do is charge something much closer to market value rather than nearly giving the meadows away.

Personally I think the cattle allotments in the GTW should stop since I don't think that running a business in a designated wilderness fits within the purpose of a wilderness.

[John Harper]

Yes, just like mining royalties. They are selling our heritage for peanuts!!!! Why should we all subsidize private businesses that do more damage than they compensate for.

John

[NorcalBob]

And therein lies the rub with utilizing public resources. It happens with cows, minerals, timber, water, and a whole bunch of other uses. If the Feds got fair market value for our public resources, our deficit would shrink!!!

[bigbearkeith]

Yea they charge us $35 for a stinking "Adventure Pass" & let the cows crap all over the place for practically nothing!

[Trootfisher]

Is this what qualifies as "fraud, waste, and abuse?"

Or a good ol' American subsidy?

[NorcalBob]

Fraud, waste, & abuse are generally done under the table. And this give away of our public natural resources is wide out in the open. So it must be the good old fashioned American subsidy.

[csimcox]

Can they fine the ranchers every time the cows drop a pie and don't bury it at least 6"? I mean they are in a wilderness area after all. Or maybe they could do like the Whitney area and require the use of WAG bags.

On a serious note, I read the article and was kind of upset that the Wilderness area would be used in such a way. I understand that public lands are managed for various uses for the good of the greater public. But I find that a designated wilderness area should be off limits for said use. BLM and to some extent non wilderness state & national forest should be used in such a way that is properly managed for minimal impact. Of course a reevaluation of the fee structure may need to take place.

[Pete]

Oh for crying out loud. We're * about less than 1000 cattle grazing in the high country? Really?

Ranchers are some of the best stewards of the wilderness resources around. They rotate grazing lands to avoid overgrazing and erosion of the creek banks. Cattle grazing for a few months a year have minimal impact on the meadows. They work closely with agencies to ensure they are not dramatically impacting the enviorment. Do off roaders or back packers do the same? Short answer: no. They walk or drive the same trails (or make their own) causing more damage, due to erosion than cattle ever could. Fly fishermen trample the banks, wade the creek bottoms and basically cause damage. Anytime somebody or thing sets foot on the ground they have an impact. Maybe we should wipe out all the elk herds in the high country. I am sure they have an impact on the resources we think belong entirely to us.

Maybe we should just ban all activities in the back country. And yes, there are groups that want to do that.

As for cow crap... Some of the best natural fertilizer around. Grass in, grass out. Three stomaches have a tendency to help the fertilizer process. Figures the article would come a city that causes more pollution and damage to the planet, on a daily basis, than the largest cattle herd in the world ever could.

Just another view from a guy who has worked around cattle and ranches. Cattle, love em or hate em, you still eat em.

Pete

[RichardCullip]

Oh for crying out loud. We're * about less than 1000 cattle grazing in the high country? Really?

Just another view from a guy who has worked around cattle and ranches. Cattle, love em or hate em, you still eat em.

Pete

They do taste good

[flybob]

Hey Pete, why do you just stop beating around the bush and say what you really mean!

And I agree!

Ever noticed how GOOD the fishing is when there are cows around?
Stepping in cow * is just part of the experience!
Dry patties are also a good source of fuel, it is JUST recycled grass!

And besides, they keep Mark entertained while I nail the good holes!

[fly addict]

.

Just another view from a guy who has worked around cattle and ranches. Cattle, love em or hate em, you still eat em.

Pete

I’m just surprised the forest service hasn’t allowed the illegal pot growers access to our national forest and wilderness areas. We know how much the growers respect the waterways and wildlife. Oh wait they already do that too, no charge!

And Pete your right, If God wanted us to be vegetarians; he would have made cabbage fun to shoot.
Mark