11/30/05 WDFW-WCA memorandum

WDFW-WCA Memorandum Some cattlemen just signed a memorandum that could be very important to grazing. I'm Jeff keane; I'll tell you about it in one minute. A memorandum of understanding concerning grazing was recently signed between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Deputy Director, Larry Peck, and Washington Cattlemen's Association President, Pete Guglielmino. The memorandum's focus is monitoring and science to document and evaluate a grazing program on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands. It also contains sections on the responsibility of each party and the procedure by which either cooperator can exit the program. The signing was the end product of nearly ten months of work and meetings between the WDFW and the WCA. Members of the WCA approached Fish and Wildlife officials in February this year with the idea of a livestock-grazing program on department lands and the first monthly joint meeting took place in March. Seven more meetings laid the groundwork for forming the memorandum. Jack Fields, executive vice president of the WCA says the WDFW is excited about the program and has enjoyed the open dialogue from the cattlemen on problems concerning both the WCA and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The November 30th meeting between the two cooperators may even narrow down the choices of the first cattle grazing sites and select producers to implement the grazing program. I think this effort between a state agency and cattle producers has a good chance to be successful. I'm Jeff Keane.