NCA 2009 President's Award Recipient - The Progressive Rancher ...

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SOCIETY FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT National Resources Inventory – Grazing Land On-Site Study The National Resources Inventory (NRI) is a statistical survey designed to help gauge natural resource status, conditions, and trends on the Nation’s non-federal land in the United States – about 75 percent of the total land area. The NRI is conducted by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in cooperation with the Iowa State University’s Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology. The NRI 45°N is carried out under the authority of a number of legislative acts including the Rural Development Act of 1972, the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The NRI provides a nationally consistent database that allows for resources assessment and plays a key role in development of conservation policy and 40°N programs for the Nation. The NRI Grazing Land Study began in 2003 in 17 western states, encompassing those states from North Dakota to Texas and West. A limited amount of data was also collected in Louisiana and Florida. The initial study focused on rangeland – defined as land on which the climax or potential plant cover is composed primarily of native grasses, grasslike plants, forbs or shrubs suitable for grazing and browsing, and introduced forage species that are managed 35°N like rangeland. An interagency group – USDA-NRCS, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, USDI-Bureau of Land Management, USDI – U.S. Geological Survey, and the USDA – Forest Service – worked together to develop the field data collection protocols and data elements for the grazing land study. In 2011, the Bureau of Land Management partnered with NRCS in implementing 30°N a national approach to monitoring rangeland resources by expanding the NRI on-site data collection to BLM managed lands. This year the Grazing Land 30°N Study will expand to the 48 contiguous states and will include rangeland and pastureland on non-federal lands, as well as the BLM managed lands. The NRI on-site data are collected at a scientifically selected subset of NRI 25°N sample points. The NRI program is based upon scientific and rigorous sample survey protocols. These protocols include maintaining and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the data gathering sites. The geographic locations 25°N of the sites are not public information and all data gathers are required to sign a NRI Confidentiality Certification Agreement prior to starting data collection. NRI data that identify landowners, operators, data collection sites, or unreleased data are not released to the public. NRCS policy also requires permission from the land owner/ operator before entering private property. The data collection is done by teams of two or three data collectors. With the assistance of a global positioning system (GPS), data collectors navigate to sample locations and collect on-site data. The inventory process involves collecting data along two intersecting 150-foot transects and in a macro plot formed by the two transects (150-foot diameter circular plot). Photos are taken at the end of each transect and optional pictures may also be taken of noxious weeds, soil erosion, fence line contracts, conservation practices, and other points of interest. Types of data collected include: land cover/use; soil component name; slope gradient, length and shape; ecological site information; rangeland trend; plant production, composition, cover, density and height; soil surface aggregate stability; rangeland health; presence of invasive/noxious plants; and the presence of any resource concerns, disturbances, and conservation practices. Quality assurance is an integral part of the NRI Grazing Land Study. All field data collectors must be training and authorized before collecting data. They must participate in an annual training, pass a written test, perform calibration exercises, pass a performancebased test, and sign an NRI Confidentiality Certification Agreement. In October 2010, the NRCS prepared a summary of the first four years (2003-2006) of by Patti Novak-Echenique — NRCS Nevada State Rangeland Management Specialist 125°W 85°W 120°W 80°W 115°W 110°W 105°W rangeland on-site data – the ‘National Resources Inventory Rangeland Resource Assessment’. The NRI rangeland results addressed current conditions based on data collected at 10,000-11,000 NRI rangeland field locations. The findings focus on key issues in rangeland science, including rangeland health, non-native plant species, native and non-native invasive plant species, bare ground, intercanopy gaps, and soil surface aggregate stability. The complete report by chapter is available online at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/ nrcs/detail/national/technical/nra/ceap/?cid=stelprdb1041620 One key finding is that non-native species are present on nearly half (49.9%) of the Nation’s non-federal rangeland. This year, the Nevada-NRI sample includes 62 locations in the following counties: Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, and Washoe. Permission letters will be sent out in early April and data collection is scheduled to begin in May. NRCS appreciates your support of this valuable inventory of our Nation’s range and pasturelands. The Society for Range Management supports the expansion of NRI to include all lands. Implementation of a large statistically valid sampling procedure, as exemplified by NRI, is necessary to provide accurate assessments of the status of the Nation’s rangelands. Use of a uniform inventory and assessment methods of all ownerships will make such determinations possible. 100°W Non-Federal Rangeland Where Non-Native Plant Species are Present Sc a l e 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 K m s A lber s E q u a l A re a 95°W 90°W Non-Native Plants Percent Acres Over 75 50 - 75 25 - 50 25 or less None No data Federal area Water State lines Region lines Source: National Resources Inventory Rangeland Resource Assessment October 2010 U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service m11152 The Society for Range Management (SRM) is “the professional society dedicated to supporting persons who work with rangelands and have a commitment to their sustainable use.” SRM’s members are ranchers, land managers, scientists, educators, students, conservationists – a diverse membership guided by a professional code of ethics and unified by a strong land ethic. This series of articles is dedicated to connecting the science of range management with the art, by applied science on the ground in Nevada. Articles are the opinion of the author and may not be an official position of SRM. Further information and a link to submit suggestions or questions are available at the Nevada Section website at http://www.ag.unr.edu/nsrm/. SRM’s main webpage is www. rangelands.org. We welcome your comments. 24 April 2013 The Progressive Rancher www.progressiverancher.com
Federal Coordination with County Plans Federal Agencies Are Required To Resolve Inconsistencies We have all experienced meetings where the earnest federal employees ask us for what they call the public opinion. This process promises that the voices of citizens will be included in federal decisions, but what we say very rarely shows up in their documents. The agency employees are paid to do such things as consultation, cooperation, collaboration, and coordination, but they are not instructed to incorporate what they hear into their plans or regulations. However, words are important, and the word “coordination” has more than one meaning in the federal vocabulary. Federal laws also require that Federal agencies “coordinate” their activities on federally controlled lands with plans prepared by state and local units of government. That means federal proposals are to be consistent with the policy of local government or clearly explain why they are taking actions that conflict with official local plans. In this context, “coordinate” means the action that federal agencies are required to take to resolve inconsistencies between a federal proposal and an official local plan or policy. Webster’s Dictionary defines “coordinate” as an action between two parties of equal rank, importance, or degree. Congress directs the federal agencies to place a county on an equal footing with the federal agency. In other words coordination is negotiation on a government to government basis and is not just a form of public input. First the local community must write a natural resource plan or strategy that describes the local environment and what land uses are endorsed locally within federal and state lands. Most of the local plans have been prepared by a committee selected by a County Commission, although some are being prepared by other local units of government such as Conservation Districts. A local environment consists of the natural features such as air, water, plants and soils; it also includes farms, ranches, mines, retail business, industry, and recreational pursuits. The local strategy describes the current custom, culture, and economy and what is acceptable to the community. Once it is written, the local government must notify the federal agencies that an officially approved plan has been adopted and usually that includes providing the agency with a copy of the plan. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and NACo Renew Public Lands Management Partnership Sign MOU to Continue, Strengthen Working Relationship WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (FS) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) have officially renewed their longstanding partnership that allows them to tackle public lands issues across boundaries. By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, the BLM and FS recognize the important role counties play in locally based decision-making and the need to emphasize a landscape-level approach across local, state and federal boundaries. The agreement, signed March 3, establishes a framework for the Bureau, the Forest Service and NACo to work cooperatively to address fire, weed management, planning and other areas of common concern, as well as seek creative solutions to issues impacting local communities such as recreation, grazing, wild horses and burros and energy development. It ensures that broad lines of communication are opened to county officials to contribute to federal land management initiatives and policies. At a national and local level, the groups will collaborate to proactively address potential conflicts and achieve results that benefit each organization. “Counties are key partners on-the-ground in the successful management of public lands,” BLM Principal Deputy Director Neil Kornze said. “The BLM values the spirit of partnership, goodwill and cooperation we have enjoyed in this longstanding relationship.” “It’s essential that we continue our strong, productive partnership with the National Association of Counties,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We appreciate the association’s interest and participation in the wide variety of land management issues we face every day on forests and grasslands cross the country.” By Floyd W. Rathbun, Certified Range Management Consultant, Fallon, Nevada Authority for local Natural Resource Strategies in Nevada was established over twenty years ago with the passage of SB40. Soon after passage, several Nevada counties established what were called Public Land Use Advisory Committee and completed what were called public lands plans. Definition of the term “public lands” has caused some real confusion so emphasizing natural resource qualities is a way to avoid the controversy. SB40 is codified in the Nevada Revised Statutes within NRS321. Local Process: 1. Establish by ordinance a Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC). 2. Select the committee members that best represent your area. For example Owyhee County, Idaho, ordinance specifies that people will be appointed to the committee on the basis of: “...involvement in, an interest in, and expertise in the various multiple uses of the federally and state managed lands and the custom, culture, and economic stability of Owyhee County.” 3. Write a land use and natural resource management plan or strategy for lands administered by federal and state agencies, in order to clearly communicate the policies of your County to these other entities. 4. Save time and effort by following the examples of communities which have been successful, including: Eureka County Nevada, Pershing County Nevada, Owyhee County Idaho, Modoc County California, Wallowa County Oregon, and Walla Walla County Washington. Copies of their plans and other materials are available for The County to use. 5. Officially approve the completed strategy by ordinance, deliver the plan to each of the various federal and state agencies, and be prepared to insist that the policies of the County be recognized in accordance with the various federal and state laws. If the local government has no plan or policy then it (the County) is just one more voice that the federal agents will ignore as public input. On the other hand, an official local plan or strategy can be used to require the government employees to stay within the scope of their authority and often provides the best course of action. A local planning committee is much more likely to find real solutions for real problems. NACo President Chris Rodgers said he is pleased that our federal partners recognize the unique role and perspective counties play in the management of public lands. “This agreement strengthens our intergovernmental relationships and ensures that county officials have input on federal decisions affecting counties and communities.” The BLM is a federal agency that manages approximately 245 million acres of public land, primarily in the West, and 700 million acres of federal mineral resources. In addition, the BLM is responsible for managing public lands scattered throughout the 31 states bordering on, and east of the Mississippi River. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of these public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Forest Service is a land and resource management agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for managing and protecting approximately 193 million acres of public lands. The Forest Service provides leadership in the management of the Nation’s state and private forests, forest research, and international assistance for the protection and sound management of the world’s forest resources. National Association of Counties is a national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,069 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public’s understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. www.progressiverancher.com The Progressive Rancher April 2013 25
Page 1 and 2: NCA 2009 President’s Award Recipi
Page 3 and 4: As we look forward to spring and tu
Page 5 and 6: The Progressive R ancher newly earm
Page 7 and 8: Cooperative Extension Announces Wee
Page 9 and 10: OFFICE: 775-423-7760 JACK PAYNE Cel
Page 11 and 12: Flying In the Face of Common Sense
Page 13 and 14: You can’t make this stuff up!!!!!
Page 15 and 16: Invited Property Rights Editorial N
Page 17 and 18: Nutrition & Health Your success dep
Page 19 and 20: 4 control of public lands in Nevada
Page 21 and 22: Table 2. Vegetation Cover by Treatm
Page 23: Selecting Alfalfa Varieties: Fall D
Page 27 and 28: Handling and Stockmanship Skills Fl
Page 29 and 30: Shaw Cattle Co. Production Sale Rep
Page 31 and 32: The Return of an Uphill Domestic Ho
Page 33 and 34: Range Plants for the Rancher By Pau
Page 35 and 36: Canada Thistle Background Photo: UA
Page 37 and 38: Spotted Knapweed appeared near Miss
Page 39 and 40: The Progressive Rancher Coloring Pa

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