Current Ag Issues
List of Services
-
Mexican Gray WolfList Item 1
On March 5, 2024, the US Fish & Wildlife Service announced that the wild population of Mexican wolves saw another year of growth in 2023, according to the results of the annual survey. The 2023 population census revealed a minimum of 257 Mexican wolves distributed across Arizona and New Mexico.
This increase marks the eighth consecutive year of population growth, the longest continuous streak since recovery efforts began.
For More Information Click Here . . .
-
Tonto National Forest PlanList Item 2
Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth signed the Record of Decision for the revised Tonto National Forest Land Management Plan (land management plan) on December 8, 2023.
The Record of Decision documents the rationale for approving the land management plan.
This revised plan will replace the existing 1985 land management plan (1985 forest plan) effective 30 days from December 8, 2023.
For More Information Click Here . . .
-
Lawsuit Targets Illegal Livestock Grazing in Arizona’s Tonto National ForestList Item 3
The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Bird Alliance sued the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for allowing illegal cattle grazing to destroy protected streams and riparian areas in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. The forest provides critical habitat for many endangered species, including birds, snakes and fish.
More Information Click Here . . .
List of Services
-
Trich RuleList Item 3
The State Veterinarian’s Office has been in in the process of streamlining our rules and on June 8, 2020, the rule changes became effective. It has resulted in a revised TITLE 3. AGRICULTURE CHAPTER 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANIMAL SERVICES DIVISION of which contains the trichomoniasis rule.
The link below gives a summary of how the trich rule affects producers and veterinarians including changes to the importation of bulls into Arizona.
More Information Click Here . . .
-
2026 Grazing FeesList Item 1
On February 5, 2026, the USFS and BLM announced that effective March 1, 2026, will raise $0.34 from $1.35 in 2025. The 2026 rates will be:
$1.69 per AUM for BLM land
$1.69 per AUM for USFS public lands.
Read more here...
-
Forest Road 203 / Cherry CreekList Item 4
Forest Road 203/Cherry Creek Road: A 10.05-mile section of Forest Road 203 is slated to be decommissioned through the current Travel Management Planning (TMP) process because the road meanders in and out of the Sierra Ancha Wilderness (SAW) within this section. Also, when the SAW was designated in 1964, there was no language specifying that Forest Road 203 remain a motorized access system road. However, it has been managed as an open motorized road since at least the 1950s, with continuous use since that time. Additionally, the road was improved and maintained in the 1950s by the Atomic Energy Commission. In addition to the 203, a small section of Forest Road 487/Workman Creek Road is slated for closure to the general public.
Read More Here. . .
List of Services
-
Drought & Disaster ReliefList Item 3
FSA Division of USDA offers a variety of programs and services to help ranchers that have been hard hit by natural disaster events.
The University of Arizona College of Agriculture has developed several planning tools to assist Gila County ranchers in drought preparedness, drought tracking, and forecasting.
Follow this link to learn more . . .
-
Cooperative MonitoringList Item 1
What is required for NEPA for Grazing Permits?
The “requirements” are many with complex interrelated elements linked to monitoring and natural resource adaptive management. Click here for supporting documents including a synopsis of select Grazing Permit administration and management requirements emphasizing monitoring, data collection, analyses, and cooperation found within multiple USDA FS edicts linked to or under NEPA law. The supporting documents include copies of the laws, Executive Orders, regulations, and policy discussed (edicts) researched by Carolyn Eppler, AAP, LLC.
-
NEPA for RanchersList Item 4
NEPA for Ranchers: A pamphlet discribing the NEPA process on USFS and BLM rangelands.
Contributing Authors: Jim Sprinkle, University of Arizona; Carolyn Eppler, Action Analysis Partners, LLC, Payson, Arizona; George Ruyle, University of Arizona; David Cook, DC Cattle Company, LLC, Globe, Arizona
Read Pamphlet Here. . .
List of Services
-
Water RightsList Item 2
"Arizona's water problem is grave. The beautiful scenery, fine climate and fertile soil, like those of other southwestern states, have combined to entice an even larger number of people to settle there, and water demands have grown accordingly."
As the quote above demonstrates, concerns about water supply in Arizona are not new. In fact, throughout reported history, Arizona has been a desert where water is a precious and limited resource. Find out more about Water and Water Rights in Arizona here . . . .
-
Tonto National Forest Travel Management
The Final Record of Decision for the Tonto National Forest Travel Management Plan was signed on October 5, 2021.
Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth released the Forest Service’s decision on how motorized vehicle use will be managed on the 2.9 million-acre Tonto National Forest. This decision is part of a nationwide effort by the USDA Forest Service to address motorized recreation.
The 2005 Travel Management Rule requires that all National Forest System lands designate roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle travel. Read More.
-
Antiquities Act
Rep. Gosar Spearheads House Effort to Prevent Presidential Abuse of Antiquities Act.
“The president, regardless of political affiliation, should not have the authority to designate millions of acres of land without local public input”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after submitting a language request to the House Appropriations Committee asking it to include language that would prevent presidential abuse of the Antiquities Act:
Read more . . . .
