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Cattlemen Support Release of Conservation Reserve
Program Ground
Washington, D.C. (July 15, 2008) - A coalition of
America’s farmers and ranchers, today, filed an Amici Curiae brief in
support of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) decision
to release 24 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ground
for haying and grazing. Recent legal action taken by the National
Wildlife Federation (NWF) to contest this release will cause severe
economic harm to the many cattle producers who have made major capital
investments to prepare this ground to feed their cattle.
On Thursday, July 17, the United States District Court, Western District
of Washington at Seattle, will hold a hearing regarding the “complaint
for declaratory injunction” filed by NWF on June 27, 2008.
“Reversing the USDA decision at this late date would be the last straw
for many cattle producers who are already on the brink of going out of
business,” said Andy Groseta, NCBA president and cattle producer from
Arizona. “With a continuing drought, historic feed costs and
skyrocketing hay prices, cattle producers need this land to be able to
feed their cattle as well as continue their land stewardship. The
relationship between cattle producers and conservation has never been
stronger, yet in today’s economy we need to be able to both conserve and
use the land. We ask that the court consider the impact that NWF’s
actions have caused to America’s farmers and ranchers.”
Over 50 producers submitted declarations to NCBA to be used in the
brief. Throughout these declarations, producers discussed the expenses
they have incurred and losses they expect due to the NWF’s temporary
restraining order. Cattle producers have already invested over $800,000
in equipment, water, leases and fencing according to the submitted
declarations
One example of the many stories of hardship endured by these producers
includes Alan Hinds, a fourth generation rancher from Keyes, Oklahoma
whose family has been ranching on this land since the early 1900’s. Due
to prolonged drought conditions in the Oklahoma Panhandle, Hinds has
already reduced his cattle herd from 2,500 to 400. If he is unable to
use the CRP ground, he will have to liquidate his remaining cattle. His
twenty-one year old son, the fifth generation of Hinds’ on the ranch,
hopes to continue his family’s legacy.
The coalition filing the brief includes: the National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association (NCBA) in conjunction with Idaho Cattle Association, Iowa
Cattlemen’s Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Nebraska
Cattlemen, New Mexico Cattle Growers, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association,
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers, Texas Cattle Feeders Association,
Washington Cattlemen’s Association, Washington Cattle Feeders
Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National
Pork Producers Council (NPPC).
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