NM ranchers worry about water protection proposal

Who cares about some ranchers, almost any other state is better for agriculture and has more water. I would rather have clean water to drink than any water to farm with.

we all like to drink clean water, I hope your not one to waste it.

Some of the largest remaining ranches in the United States are in New Mexico.

Out of curiosity, how many of you drink untreated water from New Mexico's rivers, lakes, and streams?
Regardless of agricultural runoff, or that the bear just peed upstream, the water that comes out of your pipes at home must meet EPA standards, and is treated to meet those standards.

It would appear that Governor Richardson is merely bowing to radical environmentalists in order to leave behind some "legacy" for the liberal history books. After all, he's not going to be around to answer for his decisions later when election time rolls around.

Ranchers already are making very thin profits on the cattle they graze now. Just like the gas and oil industry, mining, or any other business the state is driving away, when ranchers cannot make a living from the land they currently own, yet another revenue producing segment of our economy dwindles, and more people are unemployed.

Furthermore, the ranch land then likely gets sold to out of state developers, who will subdivide it for the construction of remote retreats for out of state rich folks who want a second mansion in the middle of 100 acres or so. Thus, the job base is further depleted, and the production of local agricultural products is lost forever.

We do not need more economy-stifling regulation.

Sorry ranchers but you have had it too good for too long. The public land is not all yours. It is ours. You have been paying virtually nothing to trash this land for as long as you can remember and it is time to stop. You are killing streams and ruining grasslands. Good riddance.

Don't worry you surely will have the three
stooges (Teague, Udall and the other clown)
in your corner when they shut off the water -
remember it was Dumb as Craps that turned off
the water in California to farmers and ranchers
to save the Delta Smelt.

Harry Teague, Bingaman and Udall have already
sold a number of industries down the river
with their support of Cap and Tax Bills -
so no worries Farmers and Rachers - we are
sure they will be in your corner - CHANGE
YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

Just don't eat beef. Put the welfare ranchers & alfalfa irrigating water wasters out of business.

darwinsdog wrote:

Just don't eat beef. Put the welfare ranchers & alfalfa irrigating water wasters out of business.

You know, thats not a bad idea. I have known a lot of ranchers in my life and not one has ever been a liberal. I always thought they were good people but the right wingers are screaming for pay cuts for public employees. They hate unions. They hate the poor. They claim to believe that people should earn their own way through life and get off the public teet yet they have nothing but compassion for the ranching industry which gets public breaks all the time. Since times are so tough and we all need to "tighten our belts" I think now might be a good time to cut way back on luxuries like steaks and burgers and barbacue.

Eat lamb. It's infinitely more healthy than beef and it's not corporate-socialist like beef is.

C Lee Nickel wrote:

Some of the largest remaining ranches in the United States are in New Mexico.
Out of curiosity, how many of you drink untreated water from New Mexico's rivers, lakes, and streams?
Regardless of agricultural runoff, or that the bear just peed upstream, the water that comes out of your pipes at home must meet EPA standards, and is treated to meet those standards.
It would appear that Governor Richardson is merely bowing to radical environmentalists in order to leave behind some "legacy" for the liberal history books. After all, he's not going to be around to answer for his decisions later when election time rolls around.
Ranchers already are making very thin profits on the cattle they graze now. Just like the gas and oil industry, mining, or any other business the state is driving away, when ranchers cannot make a living from the land they currently own, yet another revenue producing segment of our economy dwindles, and more people are unemployed.
Furthermore, the ranch land then likely gets sold to out of state developers, who will subdivide it for the construction of remote retreats for out of state rich folks who want a second mansion in the middle of 100 acres or so. Thus, the job base is further depleted, and the production of local agricultural products is lost forever.
We do not need more economy-stifling regulation.

"Ranching" has nothing to do with New Mexico's economy. This is a socialist state, where 60% work for some government or other or they hang on the government teat (ranchers). The rest are capitalists and Native Americans (who deserve every nickle they get).

C Lee Nickel wrote:

Ranchers already are making very thin profits on the cattle they graze now. Just like the gas and oil industry, mining, or any other business the state is driving away, when ranchers cannot make a living from the land they currently own, yet another revenue producing segment of our economy dwindles, and more people are unemployed.

I think that the ranchers should absolutely be allowed to make a living from the land they currently own. I do think that public lands should be protected in the public interest. I find it quite entertaining that the rancher in the article says the environmentalists want "OUR" land as if it is privately owned by ranchers when in fact it is not owned by anyone other than the public.

Ello wrote:

<quoted text>
I think that the ranchers should absolutely be allowed to make a living from the land they currently own. I do think that public lands should be protected in the public interest. I find it quite entertaining that the rancher in the article says the environmentalists want "OUR" land as if it is privately owned by ranchers when in fact it is not owned by anyone other than the public.

And public land should be open to mining, logging, and ranching. Simply put, we MUST keep these lands open to these industries, or we must send these jobs to foreign lands, and necessary goods from foreign lands. Do you wish to subject our nation to importation of food, fuel, timber and minerals? This is our choice. We either provide for ourselves, or we must be beholden to other nations who do not have our high and mighty attitude concerning the environment. Is it right to preserve our own nation while using the materials other nations provide that could be used by the people there? Of course not.

The public interest IS food, fuel, and material goods. Try living without them.

adam wrote:

Sorry ranchers but you have had it too good for too long. The public land is not all yours. It is ours. You have been paying virtually nothing to trash this land for as long as you can remember and it is time to stop. You are killing streams and ruining grasslands. Good riddance.

Total nonsense.

You think ranchers are making a killing off of public lands? Right now, they have the choice of either selling their cattle at a loss, or holding on to them hoping the price will go up. They attempt to eke a living off of $200 an acre land that no one wants to pay the taxes on, and they pay for that privilege. Stream are not being killed, and grasslands are thriving. What's more, ranchers care for the land on a daily basis, they live there 24/7. I would venture to guess that they do more to maintain the land in a week than you do in a year.

Tell you what, Adam, stay out of the burger joints. Eat tofu.

samuel adams wrote:

<quoted text>
"Ranching" has nothing to do with New Mexico's economy. This is a socialist state, where 60% work for some government or other or they hang on the government teat (ranchers). The rest are capitalists and Native Americans (who deserve every nickle they get).

Really? The programs which help build and support domestic ranching are Federal programs. The State of New Mexico has nothing to do with them.
How 'bout educating yourself a tad before you shoot off your mouth?

I guess I am a fence walker. On the environmental side I understand the importance of protecting and preserving our NM waters. But on the economic side I understand the importance of industries and jobs, etc. But the comment about importing food brings up an important point. In NM what types of food are being grown and produced for human consumption? I know cattle are provided for but what about us humans? When the water is polluted beyond human consumption or depleted or both, what then? Do we import water? From where? Please respond, anyone?

Zielinski wrote:

I guess I am a fence walker. On the environmental side I understand the importance of protecting and preserving our NM waters. But on the economic side I understand the importance of industries and jobs, etc. But the comment about importing food brings up an important point. In NM what types of food are being grown and produced for human consumption? I know cattle are provided for but what about us humans? When the water is polluted beyond human consumption or depleted or both, what then? Do we import water? From where? Please respond, anyone?

How about first showing us where in New Mexico the water is polluted beyond human consumption? As mentioned earlier, do we drink the water from our faucets raw and untreated? No, unless you are on your own well, and even those should be tested from time to time.

The whole debate on water pollution is merely another scare tactic utilized by government to usurp even more liberty.

As for domestic New Mexico food, I guess we've got chiles, eh?

Simple. The water is not and will not be polluted. Don't buy into the envirowacko hype.

Zielinski wrote:

I guess I am a fence walker. On the environmental side I understand the importance of protecting and preserving our NM waters. But on the economic side I understand the importance of industries and jobs, etc. But the comment about importing food brings up an important point. In NM what types of food are being grown and produced for human consumption? I know cattle are provided for but what about us humans? When the water is polluted beyond human consumption or depleted or both, what then? Do we import water? From where? Please respond, anyone?

What a baffoon...

adam wrote:

Sorry ranchers but you have had it too good for too long. The public land is not all yours. It is ours. You have been paying virtually nothing to trash this land for as long as you can remember and it is time to stop. You are killing streams and ruining grasslands. Good riddance.

adam wrote:

Sorry ranchers but you have had it too good for too long. The public land is not all yours. It is ours. You have been paying virtually nothing to trash this land for as long as you can remember and it is time to stop. You are killing streams and ruining grasslands. Good riddance.

You know Idiot, people who only have opinions cant be bothered by fact. You seem to fit this profile. Ranchers are not trashing the land, never have, in fact the public lands are better now than ever thanks to the efforts of ranchers as stewards. Keep in mind that trashing the lands reduces the pasture value and decreses water available, ranchers need the grass and water, therefore will take care of it so it is there.

Zielinski wrote:

I guess I am a fence walker. On the environmental side I understand the importance of protecting and preserving our NM waters. But on the economic side I understand the importance of industries and jobs, etc. But the comment about importing food brings up an important point. In NM what types of food are being grown and produced for human consumption? I know cattle are provided for but what about us humans? When the water is polluted beyond human consumption or depleted or both, what then? Do we import water? From where? Please respond, anyone?

DUH--cattle are provided for, but then we cut them up and guess what? Food for humans! We provide for the cattle cause the cattle are food for human comsumption. Not that difficult a concept.

darwinsdog wrote:

Just don't eat beef. Put the welfare ranchers & alfalfa irrigating water wasters out of business.

The pecan farmers use most of the water...Is there such a big world demand for pecans to justify all this usage?