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WY stockgrower testifies at U.S. Senate committee meetingCharles Price testifies concerning economic impacts of large carnivore predation on cattle Wyoming Wyoming Stock Growers Association Federal Lands Committee Chairman Charles Price testified before the United States Senate Public Lands and Forests committee. This committee is a subcommittee of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee of which Senator John Barrasso, R-WY, is a member. Price's comments focused on the economic impacts of large carnivore predation on cattle. "Only a fraction of the predated calves are actually found and confirmed as predator damage," said Price in his comments. "Based on our findings, only one damaged calf is found and confirmed for every 3.8 grizzly bear damaged calves; in the case of wolves, only one damaged calf is found and confirmed for every 6.3 wolf damaged calves. This leads to the concept of a compensation factor, a multiplier that can be applied to the confirmed calf losses, to fairly compensate livestock producers for damage to their livestock by large carnivores." Price's comments are in support of a bill introduced by Senator Barrasso and Senator Jon Tester, D-MT. The bill would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program which would provide matching funds to states. The money could be used to compensate for livestock losses to predators, as well as to assist ranchers in implementing practices that would reduce predation. WSGA Executive Vice President Jim Magagna says this bill would be a welcome relief to cattle producers in the Rocky Mountain Region. "Our situation here is unique," says Magagna. "We are particularly impacted by large carnivores such as wolves and grizzly bears. We are pleased that we were able to provide testimony from a rancher who has had extensive first-hand experience from the impact of these species." 7/28/08 Date: 7/23/08
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