[RangelandsPartnership] FW: [EXT] Working Wild Challenge - Summer 2024 Newsletter

Tue Jul 23 08:57:24 MST 2024

Hi All,
Some of you might be interested in this workshop for range riding as a monitoring practice through NRCS:

Best regards,

Anne Gondor
Research Specialist, Senior
Natural Resource Users Law and Policy Center
School of Natural Resources & the Environment
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona USA 85721
gondora at email.arizona.edu<mailto:gondora at email.arizona.edu>
Zoom Phone Extension 302255

Range riding workshops
Oregon, New Mexico and Arizona producers, mark your calendars! October and November can be busy for folks, so we are hoping that getting these dates on your calendars now will allow you to attend these workshops if you are interested.

Arizona: November 7th & 8th, WLA and partners will be sponsoring a range rider workshop at the X Diamond Ranch in Springerville, AZ. The workshop on November 7th will provide information and demonstrations of the skills necessary for the implementation of range riding in the mountains and rangelands of the Southwest. This meeting will provide information on pathways for financial assistance for range riding that will be available as a monitoring practice through NRCS in central western New Mexico and central eastern Arizona. November 8th will be a Track & Sign training for a limited number of participants (first come first serve, sign up information will be distributed shortly). The Track & Sign training will be led by Rae Nickerson. Rae is a PhD candidate at Utah State University studying the effectiveness of range riding at reducing conflicts between predators and livestock, and a close collaborator with WLA. Please learn more and register here!<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=42a681034f&e=d35d63081a>

Oregon: Similar to Arizona, WLA and partners will be holding a two-day range riding workshop with Rae Nickerson in La Grande, Oregon on October 18th, 2024 followed by a track and sign workshop on October 19th. Please learn more and register here!<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=05502af525&e=d35d63081a>

From: Western Landowners Alliance <info at westernlandowners.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 8:45 AM
To: Gondor, Anne - (gondora) <gondora at arizona.edu>
Subject: [EXT] Working Wild Challenge - Summer 2024 Newsletter

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I got peace of mind and elbow room/ I love the smell of sage in bloom/ Catch a rainbow on my fishin' line/ We got county fairs and rodeos/ Ain't a better place for my kids to grow/ Just turn 'em loose in the western summertime
- Chris Ledoux, "Western Skies," Whatcha Gonna Do with a Cowboy, 1992
Dear Anne,

Happy summertime, all! How is it already the end of July?

Summertime can be both beautiful and relentless for producers across the West. We are thinking of you all out there stewarding land and livestock and caring for your neighbors and families. This season's newsletter highlights new additions to the Working Wild Challenge team, success stories, information on fall range riding workshops, a recap of some recent events, important policy updates and other news.

Sincerely,

Ellie Gage
Oregon Resource Coordinator
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Photo credit: Kim Kerns
Would you like to submit a photo to be featured in our next newsletter? We'd love that! Please send your photos to ellie at westernlandowners.org<mailto:ellie at westernlandowners.org>.
Welcome to the team!
Our team continues to grow: We have two new members of the Working Wild Challenge

We are excited to welcome Avery Shawler (left) as Working Wild Challenge coordinator. Based in Oregon, she will support the west-wide efforts of the Working Wild Challenge program while evaluating the socioeconomic impacts of carnivores on livestock operations. Learn more about Avery's interests and experiences on WLA's website here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=741a1bce76&e=d35d63081a>.

We are delighted to welcome Katelyn Hart (right) as the New Mexico resource coordinator. As a sixth generation New Mexican, she is acutely aware of the problems facing rural areas. After obtaining her J.D from the University of New Mexico, Katelyn worked at a corporate law firm representing a wide range of clients for natural resources and agricultural issues. Read more about Katelyn on WLA's website here.<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=1abf586ae7&e=d35d63081a>
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Working Wild Challenge in the field
Over the past months in Wallowa County Oregon, several small sheep producers have lost stock to confirmed wolf depredations. Although state and federal agencies are involved in the targeted, humane removal of this wolf, it has proven difficult to remove. Kim Kerns, livestock producer and contractor for WLA, recently traveled to Lostine to help a producer put up an electromesh fence around her existing fence to decrease the vulnerability of her flock. The fence is 48" high and connected to a 12V battery and solar charger to keep it adequately charged. Since it was installed, it has successfully protected this producer's sheep from further attacks.

Trail camera footage shows the wolf returning twice to test the fence, and in one image it looks like he may have tested the electric charge on the fence.
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Photo credit: Kevin Harlander
The following week, Kim returned to northeast Oregon to put on a workshop for other producers in the area on how to set up and maintain electromesh fencing for penning sheep on small operations. WLA staff will be traveling to northeast Oregon the end of July to film a similar fencing workshop to be available more widely for those who are interested. While the use of electromesh fencing has drawbacks including the impact on rangeland health and danger of sheep piling up and suffocating, it has proven to be a valuable tool in this situation. If interested, you may find out more on applications of electric-mesh fencing with the producer toolkit for electric fencing<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=752c3b0949&e=d35d63081a>.
Policy Updates
Farm Bill: While the 2024 Farm Bill passed the House Agriculture Committee and a competing version was released in the Senate Agriculture Committee, it is unlikely that lawmakers will finalize the bill before the September deadline.  An extension of the 2018 Farm Bill is expected for 2025. However, important policy direction is taking shape in the new bill that supports working lands. Habitat leasing, valuable for western landowners, was piloted under the current farm bill with the unique ability for producers to enroll in Grassland Conservation Resource Program (CRP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. These programs help landowners steward wildlife habitat and implement pricey conservation practices such as wildlife-friendly fencing and water developments. Last week, crucial language prioritizing funding for these opportunities made it into the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill report.<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=81aed1f4d5&e=d35d63081a>

This is an important first step to including key policy recommendations in the farm bill that WLA has been advancing for over two years. The language complements marker bills that are moving through the House<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=30128c72d2&e=d35d63081a> and Senate<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=e1a68b846b&e=d35d63081a>. The 'Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act' would allow dual enrollment in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (G-CRP) in areas with big game migrations, increase the payment limitation for G-CRP from $50,000 to $125,000, and add virtual fencing to practice standards to aid in wildlife connectivity.
America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act reauthorization: If passed, the ACE Act reauthorization would establish a grant program to provide up to $10 million annually to state agencies to supplement existing livestock depredation compensation programs and up to $5 million annually for non-lethal conflict reduction work, including electric fencing, range riding and attractant disposal programs. The bill passed the Senate unanimously, and is now awaiting a vote for the House version of the bill. We continue to inform Congress on the importance of this legislation to Western landowners, working lands and wildlife. Find out more about this important opportunity here.<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=fb0d2781bc&e=d35d63081a>
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Stories
New conflict reduction funds highlighted by agency visit to Montana: Recently, state and federal leaders visited several ranches in Montana's Blackfoot Valley and were able to learn more about the importance of predator conflict mitigation efforts and see many practices in action. You can read about this visit here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=6dffc07c8a&e=d35d63081a>.

This visit comes on the heels of significant new funding for conflict prevention practices made possible through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant between NRCS, the Heart of the Rockies Initiative, the Western Landowners Alliance and additional partners. This RCPP project will provide $23 million of public and private funds to ranchers in Montana, Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico and Arizona interested in implementing conflict reduction practices including range riding, carcass management, and/or electric fencing. Sign-ups for these funds are anticipated in October/November of 2024. If you have any questions on the RCPP funds, please reach out to Matt Collins, WLA's Working Wild Challenge Manager at matt at westernlandowners.org<mailto:matt at westernlandowners.org>.
Working Wild U<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=fc8d14143e&e=d35d63081a>, Season 2: Have you had a chance to listen to WWU's Lesser Prairie Chicken episode<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=b563e15617&e=d35d63081a>? The lesser prairie-chicken, an iconic species of the Great Plains, is on the brink of extinction. But there is a growing network of producers and partners across the plains looking to change that. Download the episode today wherever you listen to podcasts to keep you company while you are haying.
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Can drones help reduce wolf-livestock conflict? While we recognize the importance of having all 4Cs (compensation, conflict prevention, control and collaboration) available for wolf management to be most effective, this article<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=6bf965a7a1&e=d35d63081a> describes a unique type of predator hazing that is used in an area of Oregon where lethal control is not available due to the endangered status of gray wolves.
Upcoming convenings
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Range riding workshops
Oregon, New Mexico and Arizona producers, mark your calendars! October and November can be busy for folks, so we are hoping that getting these dates on your calendars now will allow you to attend these workshops if you are interested.

Arizona: November 7th & 8th, WLA and partners will be sponsoring a range rider workshop at the X Diamond Ranch in Springerville, AZ. The workshop on November 7th will provide information and demonstrations of the skills necessary for the implementation of range riding in the mountains and rangelands of the Southwest. This meeting will provide information on pathways for financial assistance for range riding that will be available as a monitoring practice through NRCS in central western New Mexico and central eastern Arizona. November 8th will be a Track & Sign training for a limited number of participants (first come first serve, sign up information will be distributed shortly). The Track & Sign training will be led by Rae Nickerson. Rae is a PhD candidate at Utah State University studying the effectiveness of range riding at reducing conflicts between predators and livestock, and a close collaborator with WLA. Please learn more and register here!<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=42a681034f&e=d35d63081a>

Oregon: Similar to Arizona, WLA and partners will be holding a two-day range riding workshop with Rae Nickerson in La Grande, Oregon on October 18th, 2024 followed by a track and sign workshop on October 19th. Please learn more and register here!<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=05502af525&e=d35d63081a>
Rundown of recent convenings
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Old Salt Festival Land Talk Lounge | Ranching and Wildlife: An update from Working Wild Challenge Director Erik Kalsta
The Old Salt Festival revolves around meat, land, and music in that order. That in and of itself is unique, but add the beautiful working landscape of the Mannix Ranch near Helmville, Montana and you have an experience that isn't to be missed. I was lucky enough to be tapped to speak on a panel in the Land Talk Lounge with Andrew Hansen and Sarah Red-Laird. In a conversation that covered topics from wolves to winged pollinators, we explored the notion that working lands supply some of the best habitat for rare and elusive animals in North America. Working lands provide these creatures with places to not just survive, but to thrive. While our relationships with these animals can be challenging, usually due to predation or potential regulation accompanying ESA listings, we also experience joy and awe from the privilege of a life together. For ranchers, recognizing the challenges and working toward solutions is a rewarding part of continuing to share this land.
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Beyond bugling: What do we do with elk in SW Montana? Alder, MT
As increasing numbers of elk seek out forage and habitat on private lands in Montana, they bring with them a host of potential headaches for producers. Working Wild Challenge Director Erik Kalsta recently led a discussion with landowners covering topics ranging from brucellosis and disease prevention, to forage depredation, and hunting regulations. Information gathered at the meeting will be used to inform WLA's work on this challenging issue moving forward. If you would like to get involved with the conversation, please reach out to Erik at ekalsta at westernlandowners.org<mailto:ekalsta at westernlandowners.org>.
Don't miss:

  *   Producer toolkit for conflict reduction: In case you missed it, the Producer Toolkits on reducing conflicts between carnivores and livestock on working lands (along with all of our other publications) are available to download and/or print on WLA's  website.<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=dffe3e644d&e=d35d63081a> The toolkits provide an excellent resource on range riding, carcass management, fencing, and a guide to place-based collaboration for conflict reduction, and include case studies from across the west. We couldn't have produced these without many hours of interviews and editing work by livestock producer partners.

  *   Weeds, wildlands and more: The East Yellowstone Collaborative and Partners are hosting the Weeds, Wildlands, and More ag expo August 7th from 4-7pm at the Cody Auditorium in Cody, WY. The goal of the event is to connect landowners and community members to land-related resources that rehab landscapes, support working lands, wildlife, native plants, and more.

  *   Partnerscapes meeting: The 2024 Partnerscapes meeting is happening in Redmond, Oregon Monday October 7-Wednesday October 9, 2024. Established in 2008 and incorporated as Partners for Conservation in 2010, Partnerscapes embodies a grassroots movement of private landowners working with agencies, non-profit, organizations, and policymakers to collaborate on conservation projects to sustain our working landscapes for present and future generations. Please learn more and register here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=bb13d66f55&e=d35d63081a>!

  *   RVCC meeting: The Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC) 2024 Annual Meeting is taking place October 16 at the Stanford Sierra Conference Center at Fallen Leaf Lake near South Lake Tahoe. If you're interested in attending, find more information here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=0778b71ac1&e=d35d63081a>.
Wildlife news from around the West

  *   A story about collaboration and creativity in New Mexico on a farm facing elk damage here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=dc9565e80f&e=d35d63081a>.

  *   The latest in wolf-livestock conflict in Colorado: defining "chronic depredation" here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=6ff3a39098&e=d35d63081a>.

  *   Russian scientists conducted a necropsy on a 44,000-year-old Pleistocene-era wolf discovered in 2021. Read or watch the full story here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=3ebe814b20&e=d35d63081a>.

  *   The U.S.-Mexico border wall is having a negative impact on wildlife<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=be86dbff2a&e=d35d63081a>, including large carnivores.

  *   Ranchers got a chance to ask USFWS what their legal rights are when defending their livestock against wolves. Read the summary here.<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=e7057fc612&e=d35d63081a>

  *   A tri-state agreement to cooperatively manage grizzly bears in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming here<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=c46ab287b4&e=d35d63081a>.

  *   WLA's Shaleas Harrison is quoted in this informative article<https://westernlandowners.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2f9959ff7791c5182837a3463&id=f04a7480a2&e=d35d63081a> about grassland CRP.
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