Sage Grouse Is Priority Issue for Cattlemen

Washington, D.C. (September 24, 2004) – Efforts underway to conserve the Sage Grouse and its habitat should alleviate the need to list the bird as endangered, according to testimony given today before the Senate's Environment & Publics Work Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water.

Oregon cattleman John O’Keeffe testified on behalf of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC).  O’Keeffe is vice chair of NCBA’s Public Lands Committee and chairs the PLC Sage Grouse Working Group. 

“The Sage Grouse issue has become a priority issue for cattlemen because ESA listings restrict the land on which we graze cattle,” says Jeff Eisenberg, executive director of the PLC and director of federal lands for the NCBA.  “Cattlemen are some of our nation’s experts when it comes to wildlife and environmental protection since we’re out on the land everyday.  We know from experience that conservation programs can better protect a species than federal mandates.”

In response to petitions filed by environmental groups with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to list the bird under the Endangered Species Act, the subcommittee called the hearing to review state and private Sage Grouse conservation programs.  O’Keeffe’s testimony touched on many of the efforts already underway and said listing should be considered only as a last resort.

O’Keeffe says Sage Grouse numbers and habitat are likely to continue to improve because of the conservation efforts undertaken by Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, state agencies and private landowners.  “There is no need to fear the imminent demise of the bird under these circumstances,” says O’Keeffe. 

“Also, PLC and NCBA members have shown their willingness to support the conservation effort by identifying grazing practices that are compatible with Sage Grouse habitat and communicating these practices to the Department of the Interior.” 

FWS is currently in the midst of a 12-month status review under which it is considering whether the available information warrants listing the bird.  A listing decision is expected around the end of the current calendar year.

“Adapting my grazing operation to government regulation is a burden I carry every day I stay in business,” says O’Keeffe.  “Fairness requires there be a good reason for the U.S. government to impose additional regulations on its citizens.  To date, this reason has not emerged in the Sage Grouse debate.”

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 The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest organization representing America’s cattle industry.  Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry’s heritage and future.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.