Post by pavel on Feb 13, 2016 1:55:36 GMT -6
As New Mexico ranchers struggle to rebound from last summer’s drop in beef prices and years of drought, and face rising federal grazing costs, the State Land Office announced Friday that they also will pay more in state fees to graze cattle on public lands.
State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn said the fee for grazing on state trust lands will increase by nearly 25 percent beginning Oct. 1 — from $4.80 to $5.99 per “animal unit month” — making the cost of state grazing leases more than double that of federal leases. The fee increase affects 3,500 leaseholders in all but one of New Mexico’s 33 counties who graze livestock on about 8.8 million acres of state trust lands.
An animal unit month, or AUM, usually refers to one steer or a cow and her calf, five sheep or one horse grazing for a month.
Caren Cowan, executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, said the group’s 1,500 dues-paying members aren’t happy about the fee increase, but they don’t blame Dunn. “While it is a tough deal, it is not his fault,” Cowan said.
Read more: www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-ranchers-state-grazing-fees-are-increased-by-percent/article_7c25a85a-9b26-572f-9560-330b109e6705.html
State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn said the fee for grazing on state trust lands will increase by nearly 25 percent beginning Oct. 1 — from $4.80 to $5.99 per “animal unit month” — making the cost of state grazing leases more than double that of federal leases. The fee increase affects 3,500 leaseholders in all but one of New Mexico’s 33 counties who graze livestock on about 8.8 million acres of state trust lands.
An animal unit month, or AUM, usually refers to one steer or a cow and her calf, five sheep or one horse grazing for a month.
Caren Cowan, executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, said the group’s 1,500 dues-paying members aren’t happy about the fee increase, but they don’t blame Dunn. “While it is a tough deal, it is not his fault,” Cowan said.
Read more: www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-ranchers-state-grazing-fees-are-increased-by-percent/article_7c25a85a-9b26-572f-9560-330b109e6705.html