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Mixed reactions to sage grouse announcements

sage-grouseIt’s a mixed reaction from two national ag groups to this week’s sage grouse announcements from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) say they’re pleased with the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision not to list the greater sage grouse as an endangered species. NCBA calls it “a victory for western rangelands and livestock producers”, while AFBF says it’s a testament to conservation work and species recovery at the local level.

But those two groups both say they’re disappointed with the announcement that the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service will move forward with land management plans which address sage grouse populations on public grazing lands.

NCBA calls the plans “restrictive” and says they will impede conservation efforts and range management practices already in place.  Farm Bureau says the new land use restrictions may affect the timing of range improvements, reduce livestock numbers, eliminate or reduce actively permitted grazing allotments, or impact the ability to renew future livestock permits.

 

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