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Show Farm Bureau: Ranchers Urged To Attend BLM Open House Meetings Utah ranchers with permits to graze livestock on Bureau of land Management ranges can voice opinions about proposed grazing rule changes in two upcoming open houses sched- uled for the state. Meetings will be held in Cedar City's Southern Utah University's Hunter (SUU) Conference Center Apr. 23 and at the Marriott City Center Hotel Ballroom Apr. 24. Both meetings run from 7-9 p.m. State BLM Director says the agency wants grazers and other interested parties to comment on policy changes . that would increase management flexibility and build partnership efforts to improve rangelands. National BLM Director Kathleen Clarke, former director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, says the rule changes are aimed at building and strengthening partnerships among users. Proposed rule changes include authority for "Reserve Common Allotments" to allow ranchers alternate grazing sites when drought or fire destroys permitted forage. Also, voluntary volun-tary permit restructuring, conservation con-servation easements and endangered endan-gered species mitigation. Farm Bureau President Leland J. Hogan, a Tooele County rancher, urged stockmen to take advantage of this opportunity oppor-tunity to tell the BLM how the proposals would impact them. "It's pretty rare when we have a chance to help set federal policy on how these lands are managed. man-aged. BLM controls 22 million acres in Utah and much of our state's annual $860 million livestock live-stock production depends on forage from BLM land. Managed grazing also benefits wildlife, water yields and reduces fire danger," he said. Ranchers who cannot attend the open houses can submit written comments directly to the BLM Utah State Director, co Larry Lichthardt, PO Box 45155, Salt Lake City, UT 84145 or via email at UT SLWcommentsblm.gov |