December 9, 2016 CapitalPress.com 5 BLM issues controversial new land-planning rule By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press Courtesy of Public Lands Council Cattle and greater sage grouse share public land in Idaho. Grazing advocates are concerned about the ramifications of changes to the Bureau of Land Management planning process, which were released in final form Dec. 1. WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bureau of Land Manage- ment issued a final rule Dec. 1 updating its planning process, touting the changes as improv- ing efficiency, public access and agency responsiveness to changing conditions on public lands. Rural county leaders throughout the West and pub- lic lands grazing advocates, however, say they’ll fight for the repeal of the final Planning 2.0 rule, which they believe threatens multiple uses of pub- lic lands and reduces the influ- ence of local governments. The final rule is available at www.blm.gov/plan2. BLM, which manages 10 percent of the nation’s land and 30 percent of its minerals, is required to develop land-use plans to balance competing in- terests for public lands. “Under the current system, it takes an average of eight years for the BLM to develop a land-use plan,” BLM Director Neil Kornze said in a press re- lease. “Too often, by the time we’ve completed a plan, com- munity priorities have evolved and conditions on the ground have changed, as well.” Kornze said in the press release the update should in- crease collaboration and trans- parency of planning. Several Western counties submitted public comments on the draft version of the rule criticizing the removal of language requiring an as- sessment of policy impacts on local economies, and remov- ing requirements for BLM to make land-use decisions with “meaningful involvement” from state and local govern- ments. Officials with the Public Lands Council, which rep- resents ranchers with public lands grazing permits, oppose the revisions of BLM’s goals away from managing for “multiple use and sustained yield” in favor of prioritizing impacts on “resource, environ- mental, ecological, social and environmental conditions.” The council also opposes shortened public comment periods included in the final rule, noting BLM plans take years to prepare, and the pub- lic should have more than 45 to 60 days to respond. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Ida- ho, believes the rule was hasti- ly developed. “Congressman Simpson is still reviewing the final rule, specifically how BLM ad- dressed the concerns pertain- ing to local input,” said Simp- son’s spokeswoman, Nikki Wallace. “However, the con- cern remains that many West- erners at state and local levels were left out of the process on a rule that has far-reaching im- plications.” Far West In farming, sustainability can mean loving it, sticking with it to address Trump optimism By ERIC MORTENSON Capital Press By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Fertilizer and ag chemical representatives will hear what President-elect Donald Trump could do for farmers from an ag leader next week. Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Coun- cil of Farmer Cooperatives, is the keynote speaker at the Far West Agribusiness Associa- tion’s annual meeting Dec. 13- 14 in Kennewick, Wash. Far West executive direc- tor Jim Fitzgerald said Conner serves on the agricultural advi- sory board for Trump and has held key positions, including former USDA deputy secretary and acting secretary during dis- cussions about the 2008 Farm Bill. “I think we’ll get some terrific insight into what we might expect,” Fitzgerald said. Roughly 80 percent of farmers voted for Trump, Con- ner told the Capital Press. “Most of the producers I have interacted with are looking forward to the regu- latory relief they are expect- ing,” Conner said. “Certainly for issues like Waters of the United States, we do antic- ipate that happening, in the very early days of the Trump administration.” Conner sees reason for op- timism. “Farmers across the heart- land and the people of rural America are really responsible for Donald Trump being pres- ident, because they turned out for him in very large numbers in key swing states,” he said. “We are in a position relative to regulatory reform and the farm bill where we have a per- son in the Oval Office who is looking to help the very people who helped put him in office.” Conner will “be up to speed,” as the new farm bill comes into focus, Fitzgerald said. “Farmers just want to make sure we’re working on this early, so hopefully we get this new farm bill deliv- ered on time,” Conner said. “For most of the commodities we grow, we have gone from riches to a very down-turned farm economy, so this new farm bill has taken on great importance.” The conference includes tracks on irrigated and dryland agronomics and new technolo- gy, including unmanned trac- tors and biotechnology. The conference added a dairy nutrient management plan track, as more certified crop advisers want to expand in that area, Fitzgerald said. One presentation is about bridging the generation gap be- tween seasoned veteran work- ers and younger employees. Fitzgerald doesn’t see much difference when pulling a workforce from a rural area, but urban-area workers are not used to the long work hours re- quired in agriculture. The association represents the fertilizer and agricultur- al chemical industry in the region. Fitzgerald said the goal is to maintain a favor- able business environment for members. PORTLAND — Begin- ning farmers attending the Women in Sustainable Agri- culture conference here Nov. 30-Dec. 2 got an earful from a panel of “trailblazers” who learned the hard way: Collab- orate, don’t quit, share what you’ve learned and keep fall- ing in love with what you do. Idaho organic produce grower Diane Green, Ore- gon wool producer Jeanne Carver and Southern Oregon cut flower grower Joan Ewer Thorndike shared their advice on the second day of the con- ference, which was attended by about 400 women from across the country. Green, who has grown and sold greens and oth- er vegetables for nearly 30 years, said having a mentor would have saved her a lot of time and money. “Sustain- ability” can mean taking care of yourself in addition to tak- ing care of the land, she said. Early in her career, Green said she ran around trying to do everything. She’s since realized that slow and steady Eric Mortenson/Capital Press From left, “trailblazer” panelists Jeanne Carver, Diane Green and Joan Ewer Thorndike spoke Dec. 1 at the Women in Sustainable Agriculture conference in Portland. is a better course. “As I’ve aged I’ve be- come one with the turtle,” Green quipped. In a separate interview, Green said she learned by tri- al and error, and later wrote a grower’s guide to selling to restaurants. Green, who said she turns 65 soon, said she’s cheered by the sight of so many rela- tively young women entering farming. “I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “To me it’s the future of the food system.” She said small acreage farms, often established or revived by women, are pro- viding food “closer to home.” “It’s the young wom- en who are going back and saving the family farm,” she said. “It’s really something to see the face of agriculture turning to such rosy cheeks.” Carver, whose rustic ranch has become the darling of clothing designers — wool from her sheep was used by Ralph Lauren to make the uniforms U.S. athletes wore during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Winter Olympics in Russia — said producers should look for partners ev- erywhere. Everyone from the lo- cal yarn store to regulatory agencies can provide a con- nection that leads to business success, Carver said. “We would not be part- ners with Ralph Lauren without USDA,” she said. “That’s how you do it, you make everybody a partner. “My greatest characteris- tic is that I’m damn stubborn, I just refuse to quit,” she said. Thorndike, who began growing and selling flow- ers 25 years ago, said she ignored the doubts of fami- ly members and others who didn’t think the business would succeed. But she said she fell in love with growing flowers and enjoys that ro- mance to this day. To her, sustainability means “sticking with it” and continuing to love what she does. “For all of you, that’s what I hope — that you will stick to it,” she said during the panel session. She said her daughter re- cently decided to work with her in flowers. “If you can teach some- one to do what you love, and they run with it, that’s also sustainability,” she said. The panelists had other thoughts on the various part- nerships that are necessary for success. Thorndike said mentor- ship is “tricky.” You learn by teaching, she said, but peo- ple seeking out experienced farmers for advice “shouldn’t expect them to give away trade secrets.” Green said she enjoys working with Extension re- searchers, but they often expect farmers to volunteer their time. She suggested grant writers should include compensation for farmers who provide land and time for research projects. Advice was available elsewhere at the conference as well. Julia Shanks, of Cam- bridge, Mass., was at a booth selling her books: “The Farmers Market Cookbook,” in which she describes how to cook fresh produce, and a business primer titled, “The Farmer’s Office.” 50-1/#04N