Showing posts with label Ranchers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ranchers. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Ranching Industry Praises Department of Interior After Agency Reissues Hammond Ranches' Grazing Permit



Washington, D.C. - January 29, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Public Lands Council (PLC) President Bob Skinner and National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester today issued the following statement in response to the reissuance of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grazing permits to Hammond Ranches:

"In light of a full and unconditional presidential pardon, the reissuance of the Hammond Ranches' grazing permits is the final step in righting the egregious injustices the Hammonds faced. This is the culmination of years of effort on behalf of this industry to restore a family's livelihood. We speak on behalf of the livestock producers nationwide in saying thank you to Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and his team who worked to correct the hardships this family faced."

Additionally, Ethan Lane, Senior Executive Director of PLC and NCBA Federal Lands, issued the following statement on behalf of Hammond Ranches:

"The Hammonds have asked me to convey their appreciation to Acting Secretary Bernhardt and the Bureau of Land Management for reissuing their grazing permits. They are looking forward to digging into the specifics of the reinstatement and, finally, getting back to the business of ranching."

Background:

In 2012, Oregon ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond were convicted of felony arson and sentenced to five years imprisonment under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. This conviction was the result of two routine, back-burn fires started on their private property spreading to small parcels of adjacent federal land. On July 10, 2018, President Trump signed Executive Grants of Clemency for both men. However, the initial conviction resulted in the loss of Hammond Ranches' BLM grazing permits. Today, the Department of the Interior notified Hammond Ranches that their grazing permits had been reinstated.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Introduction of Farm to School Act

Source: House Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE, 1st)
Source: House Representative Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH, 11th)

Bedford Fair

Washington, D.C. - September 12, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH), together with Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), introduced the Farm to School Act of 2017 to enhance the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School Grant program. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) introduced identical legislation in the U.S. Senate.

“Linking America’s farms to schools to provide local nutritious options for children is an exciting policy goal,” said Fortenberry. “The Farm to School program adds fresh, healthy meal choices for students and teachers, brings ag education to the classroom for the next generation of farmers and ranchers, and prioritizes food to tribal schools from tribal agricultural producers. Building upon previous efforts to connect local farmers and students, it expands market opportunities for our beginning farmers and veteran agricultural producers.”

The bill covers a range of dynamic new options for schools and expands participation of the program to include preschools, after-school programs, and summer food service sites.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Cattlemen, Western Ranchers Applaud Adoption of Wild Horse and Burro Management Amendment

Washington, D.C. - July 21, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The Public Lands Council (PLC) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) have applauded the adoption of an amendment to the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill that would allow for humane euthanasia of wild horses and burros. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), would rein in burdensome regulations that failed to allow for proper management, the groups said.

“As a native of Utah, I’m very proud of the leadership that Congressman Stewart has exhibited,” PLC president and Utah rancher Dave Eliason said. “He has seen firsthand the destruction that the overpopulation of wild horses has had on our rangelands and truly understands the issues faced by ranchers in the west and deserves credit for his work on this important issue.”

NCBA President, Craig Uden, feels this is an important milestone for western ranchers.

“Horse and burro populations on BLM lands have long exceeded Appropriate Management Levels and are damaging to ecosystem health,” Uden said. “Their population has an average growth of over 20 percent each year, and it is imperative that Congress continue to take steps to mitigate this issue.”

Overpopulation of wild horses and burros negatively impacts native wildlife, rangeland ecosystems, and rangeland access. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) uses science to monitor rangeland vegetation, soils, water and wildlife habitat to determine appropriate management levels (AML) for wild horse and burros. The BLM estimates the current population of wild horse and burros exceeds 72,000, well above the maximum AML of 26,715.

Eliason emphasized that NCBA and PLC have long expressed concerns about wild horses and burros on federal land and will continue to support humane and ethical management practices of these animals.

"While this amendment does not solve the whole problem and there is still a great deal of work to do, the language would add one more tool to the toolbox and would provide the Bureau of Land Management more flexibility to manage this unsustainable population," Eliason said.

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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Trump’s putdown of wind energy whips up a backlash in Iowa (And more...)

Trump’s putdown of wind energy whips up a backlash in Iowa
Council Bluffs Nonpareil
June 22, 2017

President Trump’s putdown of wind energy at his Iowa rally was denounced Thursday across the state, which takes pride in its position as a national leader in wind generation.
Read more...

Total solar eclipse 1st in 99 years to sweep width of US
Creston:News Advertiser
June 23, 2017

Total solar eclipses occur every year or two or three, often in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic. What makes this one so special — at least for Americans — is that it will cut diagonally across the entire United States.
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Nursing home workers still posting vulgar photos of residents on Snapchat
Des Moines:Register
June 23, 2017

Six incidents were in Iowa, which has put a greater focus on identifying such cases. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has called upon Snapchat and other social media companies to do more to stop the problem.
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Pipeline court case continues
Ft. Dodge:Messenger
June 23, 2017

The Sierra Club on June 15 filed a motion to revoke Dakota Access’s permit in Iowa, in light of a federal judge’s ruling that the Army Corps of Engineers didn’t adequately consider some matters important to the Standing Rock Sioux when issuing the national permit.
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Statement on Flood Insurance Reform Bills
Alex Mooney (R-WV, 2nd)
June 23, 2017

The 21st Century Flood Reform Act embraces free market reforms that will allow the private sector to give consumers real insurance choices and will get the program back on sound financial footing.
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Neal Statement on Senate GOP Health Care Bill
Richard E. Neal (D-MA, 1st)
June 22, 2017

“Republican Senators have taken an already ‘mean’ bill and made it even meaner. Despite seven years of promises, the Senate Republicans’ health care plan would not lower costs, would not provide health and financial security to working families, and would not help solve ongoing public health crises, like the opioid epidemic. This heartless bill would instead shift more of the financial burden of health care onto the backs of middle class families, while at the same time dramatically slash important programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, that seniors and working people depend upon. By crafting this partisan plan in secrecy, far from the view of the American public, and presenting it today without so much as a single public hearing, it’s clear that Senate Republicans learned nothing from the ‘go-it-alone’ strategy that Republicans used in the House. It’s disheartening that Senate Republicans didn’t seize this opportunity to sit down with Democrats, their own colleagues and, most importantly, their constituents to engage in good faith discussions on ways to further improve our health care system in a manner that continues to bring down costs, cover more people and expand important consumer protections.”
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Noem: USDA's Opening of CRP Acres Gives Ranchers Needed Options
Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota)
June 23, 2017

Rep. Kristi Noem issued the following statement after the USDA announced it would open South Dakota CRP acres for grazing in areas categorized as D2 (severe drought) or D3 (extreme drought) until September 30, 2017. The announcement came after a personal request from Noem to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to grant additional flexibility.
Read more...

Nunes Statement on Passage of Healthcare Bill

REP. O’HALLERAN AND 22 ARMED SERVICES DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE BILL TO BOOST UNITY AND DETERRENCE AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION
Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ, 1st)
June 23, 2017

“There can be no mistake, Russia’s blatant disregard for international agreements and treaties must be countered with strength on the international stage,” said Rep. O’Halleran. “I am proud to support legislation that strengthens our commitment to the collective defense of our allies. We must take action to end to this encroaching aggression and prevent future attempts to weaken our democracy, or the democratic process in countries around the world.”
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President Signs Blunt-Backed Bill to Increase Accountability at the VA
Senator Roy Blunt - (R - MO)
June 23, 2017

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement after President Trump signed into law the Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. The bipartisan legislation, which Blunt cosponsored, reforms the Department of Veterans Affairs by making it easier for the secretary to hold employees accountable for misconduct or poor performance, and ensuring appropriate due process protections for whistleblowers.
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Boozman Applauds Signing of VA Reforms into Law


Roe Statement on President Signing VA Accountability Bill into Law

Amid Reports that Trump Will Break Promise to Get Tough on Drug Pricing, Booker, Franken, Lawmakers Urge Trump to Act on Solutions that Bring Down Prescription Drug Costs
Senator Cory A. Booker (D-NJ)
June 23, 2017

With news reports indicating the White House is on the verge of issuing an executive order devoid of policies that would meaningfully reduce prescription drug prices, breaking yet another key promise to Americans, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and other Senate and House Democrats to urge President Donald Trump to act on solutions that truly reduce the rising cost of prescription drugs.
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Brown Vows to Keep Up Bipartisan Efforts to Protect Great Lakes Following Asian Carp Sighting
Senator Sherrod Brown- (D - OH)
June 23, 2017

“It’s clear: now is not the time to take away the tools that help us protect our Great Lakes,” said Brown. “Between this carp sighting and news that the Lake’s health is declining, it is a bad week for our Great Lakes. We’ve got to double down on our efforts to protect Lake Erie and the jobs it supports. That means staying vigilant and standing strong in bipartisan opposition to the elimination of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative proposed by the Administration.”
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Senate Intel Committee to Hold Open Hearing Next Week on Russian Intervention in European Elections
Senator Richard Burr - (R - NC)
June 23, 2017

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced that the Committee will hold an open hearing on June 28, 2017 to examine Russia’s interference in recent and future European elections. The witnesses will address Russian activities in the French and Montenegrin elections and look forward to Germany’s fall election. This will be the latest in a series of open hearings to provide for the American people further context and understanding of Russian efforts to undermine democratic institutions at home and abroad.
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SBC Examines How to Bring Broadband to Rural America
House Committee on Small Business
June 22, 2017

Members of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy, and Trade heard from a group of experts in the first of a series of hearings addressing the rural broadband deployment efforts small telecommunications companies are undergoing in rural America. Witnesses also discussed the potential for policy changes at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and what the FCC has done to help or hinder broadband deployment.
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Judicial Watch Asks Trump Administration to End Congressional Obamacare Exemption
Judicial Watch
June 23, 2017

The ACA requires states to create at least two exchanges: a small business exchange (referred to as “SHOP” in the ACA) and an individual exchange. It also requires certain members of Congress and congressional employees to purchase insurance on an exchange created either by their state of residence (or by the District, if they are a D.C. resident) or by the federal government, if their state of residence did not establish an exchange. 42 U.S.C. § 18032(d)(3)(D)(i). Because the ACA limits the purchase of insurance on a small business exchange to employees of small businesses – and Congress is not a small business – the ACA unequivocally requires that certain members of Congress and congressional employees purchase insurance on an individual exchange created either by their state of residence (or by the District, if they are a D.C. resident) or by the federal government for that state.
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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Farmers and Ranchers


SCHUMER SPEAKS TO TRUMP ABOUT CANADA’S UNFAIR DAIRY PRICING POLICY
Senator Charles E. Schumer- (D - NY)
April 21, 2017

“President Trump and I spoke yesterday about reversing Canada's new and unfair dairy-pricing policy. It is an unwise policy that violates our agreements and hurts our farmers, and we agreed to work together to immediately address the issue. Since Canada’s damaging policies also impact dairy farms in Wisconsin, I suggested reaching out to Speaker Ryan. The three of us, in conjunction with Senator Tammy Baldwin and other stakeholders, will develop a comprehensive plan to tackle this issue. We can all agree that, it is critical to level the playing field for our hard-working dairy farmers and make sure our Canadian neighbors rescind their unfair policy and again play by the rules,” said U.S Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer.
Read more...

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