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11,054 Cattle Operations in 30-County Area will be
Impacted Billings, Mont. (August 6, 2008) – Monday, R-CALF USA provided to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) comments regarding the USAF’s plan to triple the size of the Power River Training Complex (PRTC). Thirty counties in southeastern Montana, southwestern North Dakota, northwestern South Dakota, and northeastern Wyoming would be impacted by the planned expansion. R-CALF USA submitted factual information on the cattle industry in this region to ensure that the USAF fully understands the importance this region has on the nation’s beef supply and to encourage the USAF to consider other options with which to achieve its training objectives that would not subject this important livestock production region to increased risks. “This 30-county area is vitally important to the overall success of the U.S. cattle industry, as it is a unique geographic region in the U.S. that is home to a large number of full-time cattle producers whose income – exclusively – is derived from their operations,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. These 30 counties support 11,054 individual ranching operations that control 32,423,578 acres of vital pastureland used to maintain approximately 1,831,100 cattle and calves, which represents more cattle and calves than are maintained in the entire state of either Wyoming or North Dakota, and is more than twice the number of cattle maintained in the entire state of Utah, where the USAF currently conducts training operations. The annual cash receipts from livestock production in these 30 counties total approximately $885,699,000 annually. Livestock production in this area also helps to ensure the U.S. remains largely self-sufficient in the production of red meat – an important factor in maintaining the nation’s food security. “The average cattle herd size per ranch in this 30-county region is approximately 166 head per ranch, which is roughly four times larger than the national average herd size of 43 cows per herd, meaning that the ranches in this area represent as much as 14 percent of U.S. cattle herds larger than 100 head,” noted Bullard. “All these factors demonstrate that this particular area is unique in its ability to sustain economically viable cattle operations, and demonstrate just how important the livestock production within this region is to the overall viability of the U.S. cattle industry.” R-CALF USA requested in its comments that the USAF scientifically and quantitatively evaluate several potential risks that could affect cattle production in the region, including the risk to livestock health from sonic shock bursts, the risk to livestock productivity from increased stress, the risk to livestock fences, facilities and livestock handlers from agitated livestock, and the risk of fires caused by the deployment of flares. “Our principal concern is that the proposed PRTC expansion could result in the disruption of this region’s ability to continue maximizing livestock production – an outcome that would adversely affect the profitability and viability of the thousands of independent cattle operations within the region,” he concluded. Note: To view these comments click on the "Property Rights" link at www.r-calfusa.com. # # # R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516. |
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This page was last updated on Monday, October 27, 2008. |
