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Lily pads getting hard to come byAre you familiar with the Jumping Frog Research Institute? Well, I wasn't either but here is the mission of Central Valley California-based "environmental" group: "The mission of the Jumping Frog Research Institute (JFRI) is simply to restore and protect native amphibian populations in the Sierra Nevada. To do so, JFRI will advance the amphibian agenda of creating and maintaining viable habitat, namely clean water and healthy watersheds. JFRI intends to work cooperatively with these public agencies, but will take legal action if necessary." Now picture for a moment Bruce Hafenfeld, current president of the California Cattlemen's Association, walking into the JFRI office to discuss a joint venture. Why, we could never stoop so low as to work with an organization like this. Indeed the urbanization of the great agricultural areas of California has accelerated to the point that groups with a history of doing battle have finally begun to work together for the greater good. The California Rangeland Resolution was developed by over 70 organizations and governmental agencies that signed on the bottom line. It was a joining of forces that most thought would never happen--Audubon California, Environmental Defense, Defenders of Wildlife, Institute for Ecological Health and the California Cattlemen all agreed that the best way to protect the future of the rangeland in that state was to sit down at the table and sign a resolution that contains statements such as: "Supporting the long-term viability of the ranching industry and its culture by providing economic, social and other incentives and by reducing burdens to proactive stewardship on private ranchlands. "Educating the public about the benefits of grazing and ranching in these rangelands. "Working to recover imperiled species and enhancing habit on the rangelands while seeking to minimize regulations on private lands and streamline processes." These are just the beginning of the resolutions agreed upon by all parties. The awakening seems to be that "conservation" and not "preservation" has finally been determined to be the best way to ensure a viable future for the ecosystem. In fact, one individual recently stated in a planning meeting, "For 35 years I have been a preservationist in an attempt to protect the endangered species and today I recognize that hasn't worked." I can only image how many times during the formation of this resolution that members of these organizations were reminded that they were sitting down with the enemy. For as long as you have been reading my point of view you know that I am a leading proponent of getting to know the people we think are working against us. Sure, we have plenty of areas that we may never agree on, but if we start by focusing on the areas we do concur on, who knows what possibly wonderful solutions could come of it. That certainly appears to be the case with this precedent-setting California Alliance. At the end of the day, it is fair to say that any organization that is not willing to look at the science and admit that grazing food animals are a part of the proper ecological system simply isn't really interested in improving the environment. Perhaps they are focused on profiteering at the hands of fear-mongering instead of progress. However, in no way, shape or form is this a one-sided equation. We as stewards of the land may have to alter some of the management practices we utilize in regard to stewardship as well. We might have to give a little more thought to how the rotation in and out of pasture might benefit a jumping frog. Or we could consider that piping water into a tank instead of allowing cows to walk into the pond might be a long-term benefit for all. Long-term viability should be the goal of everyone who tends to the land and it appears that the urbanization of California agriculture has landed several of us on the same lily pad. Let's seek true resolutions for the next generation instead of just trying to stay one jump ahead of our so-called adversaries. Editor's note: Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.FacesOfAg.com, or e-mail Trent at trent@loostales.com. B 9 4/9/07 1 Star WK Date: 4/5/07
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