On Wednesday, May 18, 2011 leadership of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American Sheep Industry (ASI), Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS), Ecological Society of America (ESA), Public Lands Council (PLC) and Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) joined the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable (SRR) to hold the first Sustainable Rangeland Issues Forum. The House Committee on Agriculture hosted the event in their Hearing Room, Longworth 1300, and we began with a continental breakfast sponsored by GLCI.

Forty agency representatives and congressional staffers participated in the issues forum. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White presented Opening Remarks to set the context for subsequent presentations. Emerging rangeland issues highlighted during the session included:

  • energy development and associated tradeoffs
  • open space and wildlife habitat for species including the Greater Sage-Grouse
  • production agriculture and contributions to food security

With a new Farm Bill in the offing, comprehensive, sound rangeland resource information will be indispensable. Better resource data supports more balanced dialogue and discussion, culminating in stronger decisions. As financial resources become more scarce, the need intensifies for more efficient and effective land management policy.