Enviros outbid rancher for land

Santa Fe New Mexican ^ | May 23, 2003 | (news report)

[CedarDave]

TUCSON, Ariz. -

A Santa Fe-based environmental group successfully outbid a private rancher for a state land lease.

The Forest Guardians now plan to kick cattle off 162 acres near Elgin, in Santa Cruz County, and use their 10-year lease to restore the Babocomari River's cottonwood-willow forest, which they say overgrazing has damaged.

The group bid about $2,000 in annual fees for the property, which is $84.40 per "animal-unit month," the government's measure of how much forage is needed to support a cow and her calf. The group's nearest competitor, Ethlyn Telles, the previous leaseholder, bid $40.66 per "animal-unit month."

[CedarDave]

At least Forest Guardians is putting money where their mouth is. Unfortunately, this section of land may be the most valuable for ranching and without it, the remainder of the lease, if any, is essentially worthless to the rancher.

Any Tucson-area types who can fill in details??

[CedarDave]

Fill in details, anyone?

[ikka]

The real question concerns the organization being able to use their non-profit status and / or any grant money they get from the state. I don't know if they are a non-profit or not however.

[razorback-bert]

Will the ecos fence off the water?

[Thane_Banquo]

People, ya can't bitch about folks who legally purchase land - or else all your rhetoric over property rights is nothing but self-serving blather.

Yeah, but we can bitch that it went from productive to unproductive uses.

[Moosehead]

Good...some wackos have finally understood how capitalism works. $2000 per year sure is cheap for grazing rights on 162 acres of land.

[Texas Eagle]

They're going to kick the cattle off the land? What the hell does that mean?

[sackofcatfood]

Quick! Someone call PETA to save the cows from eviction!

[hedgetrimmer]

No taxes will be paid off this property, because these enviornmental groups pay no tax. There is an economic effect on local cattle jobs, and affiliated industry. As different types of farming are eliminated, the threat to our national security grows, because we as a country can be greatly harmed if we are not self-sufficient food producers. And all the only eat organic/artisinal types would be apalled at the food production methods in some of the countries that sell into our food supply right now. I don't think these enviros understand their personal preferences for food could be affected by putting people out of production.

[Texas Eagle]

How do you kick cows off of land?

You serve them with eviction notices?

[hedgetrimmer]

What these foundations do is degrade private property rights. As they are foundations, they pay no taxes, and the remaining private property owners are called on to make up the difference. Pretty soon no private individuals will be able to own land in this area, because the ecofoundtations drive up the costs of doing business. It is a _bad_ thing IMHO.

[hedgetrimmer]

Nafta Gatt and environmentalists have put a triple whammy on agricultural production in this country.

Who defends property rights and grazing rights in this case?

[longtermmemmory]

Will the land be maintained as cattle land? If these are grazing leases will actual grazing take place?

This is like evironmental groups being used to keep tax values low untile developers are ready to develop.

[CedarDave]

Love to hang around to continue discussion, but have to say goodnight to all!