The Ranchers Senator Rides To The Rescue
I’m Susan Allen when Open range returns I’ll tell you how Senator Mike Crapo from Idaho is working to help western ranchers remain viable. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo from Idaho believes that ranchers add value to not only Idaho’s economy (considering that nearly forty percent of the state is rangeland) but also its ecology, as well managed range helps fight invasive species, and wild fires and is critical for wildlife habitat. One of the major threats to livestock grazing is not development but interestingly litigation. Ranchers can be tied up for decades in a court system that virtually crawls. Crapo cites the case of two Owyhee county ranchers Tim Lowry and Paul Nettleton who spent the last ten years fighting the BLM over stock water rights that have been part of thier western ranches since the late 1800’s. Although the men won their case, because of the court cost involved their ability to continue ranching is uncertain. Senator Crapo and Senator Jim Risch introduced legislation that would authorize and expedite the award of litigation fees. Crapo also teamed with a group of western senators to introduce the grazing improvement Act of 2011 that seeks to provide stability by addressing the paralysis on grazing permit renewals that occur with litigation. In Crapo’s words “the legislation would permit federal agencies to renew permits and leases while environmental analysis is being completed, but maintain the ability of the agency to take action when violations occur.” He calls this a common sense measures that will also provide ranchers with predictability in the permit enewal process.
