Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1920-08-20 | Page 9 | Grazing Action Defended Here

GRAZING ACTION DEFEHDED HERE 'Assistant Forester Explains Just Why Use of Certain. Ranges Restricted That cattle associations from Wasatch. Utah and Junb counties are not united as represented, against the decision of forest authorities to delay the opening or the grazing season sea-son In the spring, was the statement this mornlni; of L F Kn-ipp In charge of the local forest service headquarters It has been repotted that sixteen ratile associations in ihc thrpc coun-i coun-i ics mentioned, with an ownership of more I ban 40,000 head of stock, met at the ITovo Commercial club and registered a vigorous protest against RCtlon OD the part of United States foresters In attempting lo close for est service reserves to cattle until , M i ' K,, beginning 1021 Representatives of the cattlemen axe alleged to have stated that un-der un-der the forcn-t service rutins the stock indusin in that country would die. Regarding the protest of the cattlemen. cattle-men. Assistant Forested Knopp said toda "J. W. Nelson grazing expert from jihe Wshinston offices, wai In the 'territory In question lor two months this spring and decided that the ranges had been opened too early during prvious seasons. "Part of the forest service range is a.nlable for opening prior to May I 16 and in event that cattlemen show I inclination to co-operate in keeping i .iftle off restricted range until after ; May 16, such portions of range as I are arailablc will be opened prior to Ia 16 "Because of the high altitude of the ranges in question, they cannot I be opened as soon as the ranses on I lower elevations. Last season, the I ranges, in question were either under I enow, oi furnished very little feed I at the iin.e for their opening. If Ihe ranges are opened prior to i May 16. before forage plants ha e had an opportunity to Btarl a vigor I ous growth, the very ends for which I the forest .service has been orpan Ized ill be defeated DANGER OF OVERGRAZING 'Fifteen years of experiment and Stud) has proen to the forest service that too early opening ot forest range result in overgrazing. At hrst the superlot and highest grade for age plants give v ay to other plants which are not as acceptable as food The tattle, choosing the most pal atable food available keeps even the Inferior plants closely cropped In this manner, the range is soon depleted de-pleted of plant life, excepting plants of low palatabiiity to the cattle Thou -;mds of acres of grazing lands In the district over which the agitation has ben raised are at present In this conditluD. and It is for the better-in better-in ii' of the cattle industry In this ; section of t lio country that the open ing or the range is being deferred "While protests have b i n made from lime lo time among a num ber of the cattlemen In this sec tion they are not protesting as a unit scores of tho stockmen being BO Irelj favorable to the delaying of ihe grating season."