Sage Grouse Habitat Montana
November 14, 2013 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Meetings Set to Discuss Draft Sage Grouse Strategy

Sage Grouse Habitat Montana(Release from Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks)

The governor-appointed Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Conservation Advisory Council will host seven public meetings later this month to examine a draft sage grouse habitat conservation strategy.

The draft strategy was developed over the past six months by the citizen-based advisory council. It details a state-led effort to address threats to the species as identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to preclude the need for listing the sage-grouse as a federally threatened or endangered species.

The strategy recommends the development of a conservation fund to support land stewardship practices beneficial to sage-grouse and a set of stipulations for state agencies to adhere to when permitting development and other activities in sage-grouse habitat. The strategy also includes recommended management practices for enhancing sage-grouse habitat.

The public meetings will be aimed at discussing and examining the strategy and taking comment on the council’s recommendations. Public meetings are scheduled for:

  • Dillon              Nov. 13; 6-8 p.m.        U of M–Western, Mathews Hall, Lewis & Clark Room
  • Billings             Nov. 18; 6-8 p.m.        FWP Region 5 Headquarters
  • Baker               Nov. 19; 1-3 p.m.        Senior Citizens Center
  • Miles City        Nov. 19; 7-9 p.m.        Miles City Community College, James P. Lucas Bldg.
  • Glasgow           Nov. 20; 6-8 p.m.        Cottonwood Inn &Suites
  • Malta               Nov. 21; 12-2 p.m.      First State Bank
  • Lewistown       Nov. 21; 6-8 p.m.        FWP Lewistown Area Office

Council members and FWP will be on hand to discuss the strategy and the information displayed. Written comment can be submitted at each public meeting.

Copies of the draft strategy and comment forms will be available online at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Sage-grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy.” Public comment on the draft strategy will be accepted through 5 p.m. Dec. 4.

The council will provide its final recommendations to Gov. Steve Bullock in January. For more information, call 406-444-2612, or visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov.

September 9, 2013 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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45th Annual PLC Meeting Addresses Industry’s Challenges and Opportunities for 2014

DEADWOOD, S.D. (Sept. 9, 2013) – Public Lands Council (PLC) this Saturday wrapped up its 2013 Annual Meeting in Deadwood, S.D. Over 100 ranchers with public lands grazing rights in states across the West gathered to discuss matters affecting their industry and to consider projects and policies that will guide the organization’s future activities.

“Since 1968, PLC has been the voice in Washington, DC for ranchers who operate on public lands,” said Brice Lee, PLC President and a cattle rancher of Hesperus, Colo. “Each year, leaders of our industry meet in order to set priorities and discuss strategies that will help PLC provide a stable business environment for our members. This is important work: at stake is the health of the economies and landscapes of the West.”

The meeting kicked off on Wednesday evening with a welcome barbecue featuring guest speaker South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture, Lucas Lentsch. Over the following two days, attendees interacted with industry experts, congressional staff, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service officials. The BLM also presented its Range Stewardship Award to the Beyeler family, who ranch near Leadore, Idaho. PLC’s Executive Director, Dustin Van Liew gave an update on PLC’s efforts promoting priority legislation such as the Grazing Improvement Act, fighting damaging new regulations and defending grazing in the courts. On Friday afternoon, members passed new policies and updated existing policies.

Also an important component of the meeting was the board of directors’ approval of projects to be funded by the Public Lands Endowment Trust. The Trust was established in 2011 to protect, enhance and preserve the public lands grazing industry. This year, seven new projects were approved, ranging from research projects; to development of software to improve resource planning; to providing PLC with new resources crucial to the expansion of the organization.

Lee, who continues in the second year of his two-year term as PLC president, was joined in leading the meeting by PLC Vice President and Idaho rancher, Brenda Richards and PLC Secretary/Treasurer and Utah rancher, Dave Eliason.

“To me, this year’s meeting revealed a turning point for our industry,” said Lee. “Thanks to the hard work and foresight of our staff and some of our industry’s leaders over the past few years, we have opportunities available to us that we’ve never had before—and it’s generating a can-do, optimistic attitude. I was very pleased with the 100-plus turnout, and can see that PLC’s influence is growing. I want to thank those individuals who took the time to come. Their impact on our industry’s future cannot be overestimated.”

–PLC Release