Wyoming Farmers and Ranchers Face Federal Policy Challenges in 2015

January 2, 2015

AWHC Contributor

Wyoming farmers and ranchers are gearing up for several policy battles and are optimistic about continued favorable market conditions in 2015. The agricultural community in the Cowboy State is focusing on wild horse and predator management, alongside a proposal for a second beef checkoff program.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture projections, Wyoming ranchers expect sustained high cattle prices as the nationwide herd continues to rebuild.

State-Level Legislative Focus

At the state level, Wyoming agriculture interests are preparing for a relatively uneventful legislative session:

A bill that would make lowering fences to allow illegal grazing a misdemeanor gained approval at the committee level.
A transportation bill easing commercial driver's license requirements for commonly used truck and trailer combinations also gained committee approval.

Federal Government Challenges

Wyoming agriculture also faces several battles with the federal government:

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced he will not pursue his plan to enact a second beef checkoff program after industry leaders questioned the government's role in administering such a program. The announcement did not quell questions about the current program's future.
The Environmental Protection Agency's Waters of the U.S. rule sparked concern among Wyoming farmers and ranchers, who viewed it as a potential land grab by the federal government. The rule would require additional permitting for water projects affecting waters adjacent to Waters of the U.S.
Wyoming ranchers continued their push for state-run wolf management in 2014, but a U.S. District Court ruling in the District of Columbia struck down the state's management plan.
The state of Wyoming sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for allowing too many wild horses on Wyoming range lands. The BLM gathered more than 1,200 horses in a September roundup on the checkerboard lands of southwest Wyoming. The state is offering $250,000 for wild horse research in 2015 and is seeking proposals concerning wild horse populations and range land conditions.

Originally Posted By Casper Star Tribune