Distinct Disappointment: Ag groups are criticizing the latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife grizzly bear proposal

“This proposed rule and rejected delisting petitions do nothing other than move the goal posts for species recovery and deny sound science...”

The ag industry is reacting to newly proposed rules from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for grizzly bear recovery efforts.

The proposed rule would establish a distinct population segment covering parts of Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. That means grizzly bears in those areas will maintain their threatened status under the Endangered Species Act.
Bears outside the area would lose those protections.

The agency argues the revisions will allow for greater management flexibility, but livestock producers are not so sure.

Garrett Edmonds with NCBA says, “This proposed rule and rejected delisting petitions do nothing other than move the goal posts for species recovery and deny sound science... It is disappointing to see the Fish and Wildlife Service create distinct population segments that spans four states, millions of acres, and multiple areas where the science already shows that grizzly bears have recovered.”

Edmonds says that if passed, this rule would make it harder for the recovered species to be delisted in the future.

Grizzly bears have been listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1975.

Related Stories
Year-round sales of E-15 are another major topic on Capitol Hill, which, according to Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), is one issue up for debate this session with significant bipartisan support.
The North Carolina Farm Bureau highlights the work being done on Sound Mind Farms, a farm producing hemp to make sustainable fabrics.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) joined us on Champions of Rural America to share his insights on upcoming changes to public land management and how they will benefit agriculture and the Western working class.
The Interior Department is proposing to repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule. This move would make huge strides to empower local decision-making and restore balance between conservation and protecting rural livelihoods tied to these public lands.
With new renewable volume obligations announced this year, the Iowa Soybean Association says they’ll be vital to a farmer’s bottom line.
Pressure to lower gas prices across the Golden State could be the saving grace of this year’s corn harvest. California may soon be the final U.S. state to approve E-15 sales.

Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.
Join markets specialist Scott Shellady, better known as the Cow Guy, as he covers the market-close, breaking down headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets with commentary from respected industry heavyweights.