Hansen recently convened a working group comprised of five Republicans and five Democrats to study the act and recommend effective changes. Hansen said that he'd like to receive legislative recommendations back from the working group in the next three months. Making agriculture the solution, not the problem By Karen Salaz T he mention of an endangered species listing packs the force of lightening for farmers and ranchers trying to juggle low commodity prices and energy costs as well as burdensome regulations digging into slim profit levels. On Colorado's eastern plains where precarious dry land farming is the norm rather than the exception, lack of rain is not the only worry on the minds of agricultural producers. Plaguing this endangered species listing and landowners is the undeniable lack of scientific data Colorado Farm Bureau is participating in a three-year study to obtain accurate scientific data on the mountain plover.
Mountain plovers winter primarily in California in the Central and Imperial valleys.
We feel we can do a good number of things for the conservation of the bird the minute it is listed, the options diminish. The value of accurate scientific data has become as precious as the birds themselves. Not only did wildlife officials realize that, but so did the private landowners. The emergent joint venture transformed traditionally reluctant parties into active partners this spring. Colorado Farm Bureau is working on a three-year program with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to study the plover to determine preferred habitat, nesting sites, movement on agricultural ground and fledging success of chicks.