Grazing on Forest Service Land in New Mexico Threatened

The New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, the New Mexico Public Lands Council, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and other cattlemen are urging a review of the current crisis in the Santa Fe National Forest, where livestock grazing on Forest Service permitted land is in jeopardy.

Producers met in Washington, D.C., last week with Under Secretary Mark Rey of the Natural Resources and Environment division of USDA. The meeting was organized by cattlemen in response to the drought situation in New Mexico. Earlier this month, cattle producers with the U.S. Forest Service grazing permits were notified by mail that they would have to remove their cattle from the land due to drought conditions. 

“It is unnecessary for many to remove cattle from these lands. It needs to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Most of these producers are small cow-calf operations, who have worked this land for generations. Livestock production is their only means of support. These ranchers are already suffering from drought conditions, and being forced to remove their cattle from national forest lands means that most will have to liquidate,” said Scott Klundt, NCBA’s associate director of Federal Lands.

The cattlemen are urging the Forest Service to work with them and find alternative measures to assist ranchers with the drought conditions.  In response to the drought conditions and the removal letter, cattlemen are asking for review of the range conditions by a Range Improvement Task Force.  The Forest Service agreed to utilize the task force in making a short-term assessment of the range conditions and available forage.  The Task Force teams are visiting allotments this week.

Rey indicated his concern with the drought and sympathized with the ranchers.  The department will also look at additional options as possible short term measures to alleviate stress caused by the drought.

“We appreciate Under Secretary Rey’s willingness to work with us. Mr. Rey assured us that cattle will now not be removed until the Range Improvement Task Force has completed its independent analysis. The agency had previously not conducted a thorough evaluation of range conditions to warrant removal of all the cattle from the forest. We appreciate their immediate attention to this matter, as it could have a lasting effect on their livelihood and is of vital interest to many cattlemen in New Mexico.” 

The New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association intend to make the situation in northern New Mexico a national priority and will undertake every effort to seek alternatives in order to help these small ranchers.

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.