The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-03-14
CATTLE MEN OBJECT TO
RAISE IN GRAZING FEES


ted States forest reserves should be
increased. Most of this discussion,
according to officers of the Oakley
Valley Cattle association, is put
forth by persons who are intimately
connected with the Forest depart
ment, and very little has been said
or behalf of the stockmen.
In an interview with a Herald re-
porter, officers of the local Cattle
association made substantially the
following statements:
improvements of roads and in
crease of school funds are mighty
nice things and we all desire an in
crease of the funds for these purpo-
ses. However, there is one vital
fact which must be considerd and
that is whether or not the stockmen
can afford to range their cattle on
the forest reserves. Either the
stockmen must be able to pay the
reserve fee and make a profit ION
the pasturage afforded by the re-
serve, over and above other availa-
BILE fenced pastures, or these same
stockmen will have to seek else
where for forage fo~ their stock. IT
is purely a matter of business with
all parties concerned. If the stock
men withdraw their stock from the
reserve, on account of exorbitant
fees, not only will the present re-
serves which have accumulated on
account of fees already collected be
destroyed, but it will be impossible
for the department actually to oper
ate the pasturage department of the
forest reserve without loss to the
government and incidentally to the
taxpayers.
"An increase of rates will drive
the stockmen to withdraw their
stock from the reserves. This seems
like pretty strong statement, but
let us analyze the situation as COM
pared with patsuring cattle under
enclosed fences. In the first place, |
the stockman must figure ten per |
cent loss on his cattle which are |
on the forest reserve. Exper |
ionce by Cassia county stockmen has |
proved that this is a low estimate.
This loss would not occur if the cat
tie were kept in an enclosed pasture,
but the loss would be about one
per cent. Cows ranged on the forest
reserve produce only from sixty to
sixty-five per cent calf crop, while
COWS ranged under enclosures pro-
duce from ninety-five to d. hum
dred per cent calf crop. Cows ranged
OH the reserve are subject to cross
ing with various breeds, while cat
Tic under enclosures can be bred |
and the herd improved.
"On the Cassia county part of the
Einidoka reserve, cattle cannot be .
urned out earlier than the sixteenth ,
lay of April. This entails the keep
ng of such cows on the home ranch
intil that time, which greatly hin
lers the preparation of the land for
rops. And, of course, as long as ,
he owner is depending on the forest
eserve for his pasture he cannot af-
ord to set aside pastures on his own
and for this purpose. After these
attic are turned out in April, the ;,
wners must hire and pay a man to
ide range to keep the cattle on the
srticular portion of the range des-
ynated by the department, for a
eriod of some six weeks. OF course.
ais means an additional four or @
We cents per head per month over r
le entire season, which has to be
aid by the stockmen. c
And again there is the further ex-
nnse of collecting the cattle in the
Ill. Discussing this question re-
entity, a stockman who has about
hundred head of cattle told US
lat he spent not less than thirty
iys each year actual time riding
II his cattle.
All of these items are expenses
hich would not be incurred where 30
e cattle are under enclosure, ex-
pit the actual pasture fee, which,
ter all, is a pretty smalli tenn in NJ
e expense. Taking all of these
oms together and comparing them
ththe actual cost of pasturing un no
II enclosure, it will be readily seen
at, even at the present rate, stock ~,
en- cannot afford to range on the
serve. Counting losses, shortage
calf crop and expense of spring -,
riding, over and above such losses
d expense under enclosure, and
t includig the time spent in rodeo II,
'rk, it costs the stockman around
.08 per head per month to pas
re his stock upon the forest re-
we, when he can keep them under
enclosure on good pasture at ric
Ice much less than the total ex- to
use to keep them on the reserve, ma
addition IN fha r,apv ofhar advan loo