REGION V
By Jim Steinbeisser
It has been an interesting experience being a new NCBA regional vice president . In attending my first two meetings , I grew to appreciate the talents that were gathered around the Executive Committee board table .
Our first meeting was primarily focused on picking the regional winners of our Environmental Stewardship Award Program ( ESAP ). What a challenge that was ! The quality of applicants from across the country is very impressive . There was a wide variety of types of operations , but all were top-notch , no doubt .
The ESAP program has been around more than 30 years now , and it has evolved through the years to become a great way to show beef consumers how we raise their favorite protein and why we do the various management practices which turn cattle into beef that eventually lands on their plate .
In this evolution , we are putting some focus not only on showcasing American farms and ranches but also asking the operators of these ranches to speak on our behalf , especially on the environmental aspects of our businesses . We , as producers , are under heavy scrutiny regarding our carbon footprint and the sustainability of how we produce beef . Thankfully , we have a great story to tell . I encourage you to seriously consider applying for ESAP with your ranch . Many of you are doing great things at your place that would be good for the world to see , and it ’ s so important we share it . Your state affiliate can help you with the process , and on the national level , NCBA is there to help as well .
REGION Vl
By J . J . Goicoechea
In April , the Department of Interior ’ s Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ) announced the finalization of its Conservation and Landscape Health rule . For those of us in the West , this rule is of the greatest concern for our rangeland adaptive management and , even more so , troubling for our often-multigenerational operational succession . The final rule proposes actions counter to the agency ’ s multipleuse mandate under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( FLPMA ). According to FLPMA , the BLM is required to balance the multiple uses of public lands including recreation , energy , mining , timber and grazing . The Conservation and Landscape Health rule ignores prior Congressional priorities and statutory authority by inferring a new , single use on equal footing with historically proven uses that have continued to protect our resources . The rule further expands the proposed use of restrictive Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ( ACEC ) designations that have compromised land and water health across the West . These are again poised to do so with the same ACEC considerations now being promoted in the Greater Sage Grouse Land Use Plan Amendments , which are also now under review across the West . The result is a framework giving the BLM more restrictive land management , increases pressures and conflict on our producers , and further decreases the agency ’ s mission of multiple use .
The use of agency rulemaking to circumvent Congressional authority remains a priority for NCBA . This non-statutory authority will continue across the federal agencies if we do not continue to collectively engage .
REGION UPDATE
REGION Vll
By Phil Perry
Hello from northeast Kansas ; I hope everybody is having a great spring . We have been lucky in my area and have been receiving some welcome rain . I pulled up the National Drought Monitor dated April 30 , 2024 , and it appeared northern Dakota , southeast Nebraska , and a good share of Kansas are still pretty dry .
This quarter , these region reports are focused on what is happening in our region ’ s environment and ecosystems . Here are a few things happening in Region VII .
With the positive cattle market , many North Dakota cattle producers are addressing environmental issues on their feeding operations . The North Dakota Stockmen ’ s Association Environmental Services Program is helping these producers with cost share , the paperwork for permits , and locating engineers and contractors . They are the leading organization in this cause .
While at the Legislative Conference in Washington , D . C ., I was able to corner a couple of producers from both South Dakota and Nebraska who both said they continue to battle red cedar encroachment . Another concern of theirs was urban sprawl , I would have never guessed that in those big ranch countries !
In Kansas , not far from me , they are trying to develop a solar energy farm . The Douglas County commissioners have approved the project but that is just the first step . It would cover more than 1,000 acres of rich Kaw-bottom farm ground and many locals are strongly against the project .
A big thanks to the folks who helped me gather this information .
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