| Show problems threaten livestock Grazing competition from wild game herds which have been allowed to in- in increase increase crease In numbers beyond original game management plans is seriously damagIng damaging Ing Utah's livestock industry as cattle grazing permits are reduced to allow for the big game according to the Utah Farm Bureau Tha That t organizations organization's s 's Board of Directors says the double standard of grazing lands management must be stopped if Utah's livestock industry is to survive The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources managing agency for wildlife herds should be required to abide by the same rules as livestock producers the directors said In a statement Issued at their December meeting Grazing cut 51 From 1960 through 1978 1976 livestock graz graz- grazing ing on federal lands in Utah was cut 51 more than any other state according to Executive Vice President C Booth At the same time herds of species of wildlife ranging the same public lands grazed by domestic livestock are growing rapidly he said e cited the Parker Mountain antelope herd In Wayne County as an ex- ex example example ample There the herd originally planned ed and permitted at head now ex- ex exceeds exceeds a thousand head and is Increasing very fast he said sald The economic loss to Utah caused by constant cuts in public land grazing Is significant said the Farm Bureau directors Livestock production is Utah agricultures agriculture's largest Industry generating more than 15 billion In economic activity for the state they said Economic and social Impacts on many rural Utah communities caused by these grazing reductions mandated by Washington DC are no less than tragic they said |
