FEDERAL AGENCIES RESPOND TO CATTLE INDUSTRY CONCERNS

WASHINGTON D.C. (Sept. 7, 2000) – Remedies to deal with wildfire and drought losses should soon be available to cattle producers, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said today.

NCBA received these assurances from the departments of Interior and Agriculture following meetings NCBA held with grazing officials and letters NCBA sent to the agencies.

Responding to cattle producer concerns, the departments of Interior and Agriculture sent a letter to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association asserting the agencies have taken necessary steps to help producers deal with widespread drought and wildfires.

The Department of Interior said it has given Bureau of Land Management (BLM) state directors the authority to adjust land management practices to adapt to drought conditions. Some of these adjustments include opening rested pastures, and allowing grazing extensions where substantial non-use has occurred.

The USDA said it has contacted each regional forest service agency to ensure it is doing an adequate job of providing more grazing flexibility to producers.

During the meeting last week with officials, NCBA pointed out that the parched conditions across the Southern and Western United States have already caused great financial losses for cattle ranchers. The government could help alleviate greater drought-caused losses by taking the proper steps to help the livestock industry.

“Cattle producers across the United States, and especially in the West are faced with drought and wildfires that threaten to destroy their livelihoods,” said Mike Byrne, chairman of NCBA Federal Lands Committee. “It’s times like these when cattle producers need government programs that are flexible for producer needs and provide the emergency disaster assistance that is necessary.”

What the end of this fire season will bring remains to be seen. Still, NCBA will continue working with the federal government to take more actions to lessen the affect of this year’s losses. Some of the issues NCBA is working on or has addressed include: 

• Lobbying for disaster relief funds in the FY2001 agriculture and interior appropriations legislation;

• Sent a letter to the USDA Bureau of Land Management requesting that land enrolled in the Conservation and Reserve Program be made available for emergency grazing;

• Requesting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to open wildlife refuges for livestock grazing and fuel reduction;

• Examining the financial impact on cattle producers who are liquidating their herds due to lack of forage;

• Asking federal agencies to ensure they are sufficiently staffed to address resource management; and

• Sent a letter to USDA asking it to allow sugar beet for use as an emergency livestock feed source.

• NCBA will continue working to help alleviate the effects of this year’s droughts and wildfires and cattle producers.

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the  trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.