Ranchers Play Role in Sage Grouse Saga
Yes they’re beautiful, especially when they strut their stuff and now the US Department of Agriculture is going to wave 16 million dollars in front of farmers and ranchers to entice them to protect their habitat. Typically farmers and ranchers aren’t given much credit for their land stewardship not to mention habitat ranch land provides for wild life, but in the case of the sage grouse found throughout the sage brush range land of our western states ranchers will play a vital role in increasing numbers, and even get paid in the process. The federal government, is planning to allocate up to $16 million to help ranchers fund changes that will increase sage grouse numbers. While the focus will be on improving habitat through good grazing management funds will also be used to make sage grouse friendly livestock water tanks and fencing. Land owners with sage grouse better hurry to sign up, you have only until April 23rd. The first step is to contact your county’s Natural Resources Conservation Service office to see if you qualify. The funds are being distributed from the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.