Utah

Bennion Ranch Receives Utah Leopold Conservation Award

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:43:11 GMT

Bennion Ranch of Vernon is the 2023 Utah Leopold Conservation Award® recipient.

The award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

Bennion Ranch was revealed as the award recipient at the Utah Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in Provo. Ranchers Alan and Elizabeth Mitchell receive $10,000 and a crystal award for being selected.

Sand County and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 27 states. In Utah the award is presented with Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit, and Utah Cattlemen’s Association.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Among the many outstanding Utah landowners nominated for the award were finalists: Lewis Farms of Monticello in San Juan County, and Warrior Rizen Ranch of Porterville in Morgan County. Earlier this year, Utah landowners were encouraged to apply (or be nominated) for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Utah is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Western AgCredit, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, Sand County Foundation, Utah Department of Natural Resources, CKP Insurance, Producers Livestock Marketing Association, The Nature Conservancy, Utah Association of Conservation Districts, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and Utah Wool Growers Association. To view past recipients of the Utah Leopold Conservation Award, visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/Utah.

ABOUT BENNION RANCH

For Elizabeth Mitchell, the land at Bennion Ranch is an extension of herself. The fifth-generation cattle rancher spent her youth on her family’s ranch located along the Vernon Creek in Utah’s West Desert.

When Elizabeth and Alan, and their five children, took the reins of the 2080-acre ranch in 2001 they wanted to improve its cattle pastures and wildlife habitat.

The Mitchell’s first task was rebuilding worn out fencing. Without control of their cattle’s movements, any conservation efforts would be stymied. They reconstructed 14 miles of fencing during their first five years, and have since doubled that amount. The early years also included installing two miles of waterlines and troughs with wildlife-friendly ramps.

The Mitchells have allotments to graze their cattle on thousands of acres of U.S. Forest Service lands that surround Bennion Ranch. They began their rangeland rejuvenation there in 2007 by removing Pinyon-juniper trees, thinning sagebrush, and reseeding 300 acres of pastures with multi-species of native grasses. This initial effort led to more than a dozen subsequent habitat improvement projects covering more than 18,000 acres, including all their private land.

Although Pinyon-juniper trees notoriously compete with grass for moisture, some groves of the trees were allowed to remain to provide shelter for cattle and wildlife. The Mitchells continue to interseed drought-resistant native grasses into their pastures.

When the Mitchells got involved with a local group working to conserve habitat for the greater sage-grouse, they brought thoughtful landowner and cattle rancher perspectives to the effort. With financial and technical assistance from a variety of organizations who rallied around the Sage Grouse Initiative, the Mitchells implemented a wildlife and livestock habitat conservation plan over a five-year span.

The Mitchell family helped identify leks of the elusive birds that are native to the area around the Sheeprock Mountains. To protect the birds from mowing equipment, Alan built a hydraulic flushing bar system that mounts to a tractor’s front-end loader.

The Mitchells have improved water quality and wildlife habitat with help from Beaver Dam Analogues, man-made structures that mimic the form and function of natural beaver dams. Located at various spots along Vernon Creek, which runs through Bennion Ranch, the structures filter silt from the water and create small ponds for migrating ducks.

To improve soil health and feed efficiency, the Mitchells grow cover crops within a crop rotation system on their alfalfa fields. A mix of grain, clover, radish, turnip, collards, and kale provides forage while naturally suppressing weeds and reducing the need for commercial fertilizers. Each fall the hay fields are part of the ranch’s rotational grazing system. The Mitchells raise crossbred Wagyu/Angus cattle and direct market their beef to customers.

Alan has served on the boards of the Rush Valley Water Conservancy District, Vernon Irrigation District, and Utah Crop Improvement Association. Elizabeth organized a cooperative project between ranchers and the U.S. Forest Service that improved water and grazing distribution.

Bennion Ranch hosts a variety of projects and events that bring guests to its remote location, including the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ Dedicated Hunter Program. This service-based hunting program provides hunters with opportunities to contribute time to wildlife-related service projects. They also learn about the conservation ethic that drives landowners like the Mitchells.

ACCOLADES

“Valuing the preservation of water and our precious natural resources takes center stage in today’s era of farming and ranching,” said Spencer Gibbons, Utah Farm Bureau Federation CEO. “We applaud the Mitchell family for their commendable dedication to these ideals on their farm and ranch. While we can only single out one family for this prestigious award, it’s important to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the finalists, as well as the broader community of farmers and ranchers in our state, who share a profound sense of duty towards the welfare of our land and its inhabitants.”

“We’d like to commend the Mitchell family of Bennion Ranch for their conservation efforts. Bennion Ranch has a rich history of conservation, and this recognition is well-deserved,” said David Brown, President of Western AgCredit. “Farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to protect natural resources so they can thrive for generations, and we appreciate the Mitchell family’s commitment to conservation that helps ensure a lasting legacy.”

“The Mitchell family is an example of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today. Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO.

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Mitchell family,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Critical Thinking Is Paramount (And No, Cows Are NOT Killing The Earth)

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:56:14 GMT

An Open Letter to Superintendent Rick Nielsen, Nebo School District (Utah):

This letter concerns a recent news story regarding the Nebo School District: “Utah school gives kids ‘disgusting’ insects to eat in class for climate assignment on cows killing the Earth.” Undoubtedly, the broader coverage means you’re fully familiar with the situation. While the news story drew attention to the turn-of-events, from my perspective it invokes some broader considerations.

First, climate change facts: Classroom teacher, Kim Cutler, claims, “…we’re killing the world by raising cows and animals. So we need to, get rid of cows…”. There’s simply no basis for that statement. To the contrary, EPA details agriculture as responsible for just 11% of all GHG emissions in the United States. More specifically, the beef industry represents only 3.3% of U.S GHG emissions.

Let’s take that one step further. The U.S. accounts for about 15% of the world’s total GHG emissions . Hence, the U.S. beef industry comprises less than one-half-of-one-percent of total global emissions.

Second, some broader context: Per capita beef consumption (carcass weight basis) in the United States is ~85 lb (rounded up). The total carbon footprint - considering ALL sources of GHG (both direct and indirect) associated with that production - equates to 22 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg of beef . Accordingly, the annual per capita carbon footprint for beef consumption is ~.85 mt CO₂-eq. Moreover, advances in beef industry efficiency and productivity have enabled a reduction of more than .7 mt CO₂-eq (nearly half) during the past 50 years.

Third, closer to home: EPA also outlines that 27% of GHG emissions are attributable to transportation. To that end, Utah’s Office of Tourism reports the state benefitted from having 17.8M out-of-state visitors in 2021. I’m one of those.

Now some quick math. A roundtrip flight for me from Nashville to Salt Lake City (~2800 miles) would produce the equivalent of .815 mt of CO₂ . In other words, just my portion of visiting Utah is roughly the equivalent of eating beef for an entire year. On average, my trip is likely representative of many visitors – and that occurred nearly 18M times in Utah in 2021.

None of that is intended to be critical of tourism. Rather, it’s an important industry and essential part of economic development in the state. I’m thankful for, and respectful of, the opportunity to visit Utah. As such, it’s offered as a tangible example for some broader context and draw attention to the absurdity of Ms. Cutler’s supposition.

Fourth, it demeans ranching families: Ms. Cutler’s argument completely disregards the importance of farming / ranching to the individual families whose livelihood depends on such - and their collective economic contribution to their local communities and the state. Not to mention, it neglects the respective role of ranchers – working in conjunction the Forest Service and BLM – who provide meaningful stewardship for, and preservation of, the state’s public lands (thereby also positions them as key partners in the role of Utah’s tourism).

Fifth, Nebo’s activisim: The news story reports Ms. Cutler’s assignment instructed her 6^th-grade students to write an argumentative essay “but did not permit students to disagree”. She explained, “There’s only one right answer to this essay.” That’s inherently counter-intuitive: a single viewpoint defeats the very purpose of requiring students to do their own research and subsequently provide an expositive argument.

Given that, one of the most concerning aspects in all this surrounds the very foundation of what occurred in Ms. Cutler’s classroom. It stems from training the teachers received at the District level. Seemingly, Nebo’s classrooms are increasingly prioritizing climate change activism and subsequently promoting a misplaced anti-beef agenda.

Last, critical thinking is paramount: All of the discussion above regarding climate change and beef and transportation demonstrates the importance of developing the ability to sort facts and think critically. However, the Nebo School District has seemingly relinquished its responsibility to provide such instruction.

The broader principles are what matter most. And therein lies the crux of all this. How are we supposed to get the next generation to reason clearly through any issue, if we’re unwilling to do the same?

The public school, and its effectiveness, is an essential cornerstone of our society. No one articulates that better than Henry Hardin Cherry . Therefore, I’ll conclude with one of his great exhortations regarding the paramount importance of critical thinking instruction from his book, Education and the Basis of Democracy (c. 1926):

The hope of our country is in a people who read, think, and serve; who preserve the right to take the initiative for themselves; and who challenge the right of any man or organization to do their thinking and voting for them.

Respectfully,

Nevil Speer, PhD, MBA

Nevil Speer is an independent consultant based in Bowling Green, KY. The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect, nor are associated with in any manner, any client or business relationship. He can be reached at nevil.speer@turkeytrack.biz .

Utah Company Recalls 90,000 Pounds of Beef Jerky

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:38:19 GMT

A Utah company is recalling about 90,000 pounds of beef jerky products that were mislabeled and didn’t list on the packaging the ingredient soy lecithin, an allergen.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food safety service announced Tuesday that Salt Lake City-based Prime Snax Inc. is recalling products made before Feb. 2 that were shipped around the country.

The recall affects five of the company’s beef jerky brands: Arizona Jacks, Desert Star, Southwest Trail, Terrell and Kettle Creek.

The products all have “EST. 18951" inside the USDA Mark of Inspection and expire by Aug. 11, 2015.

Officials say there have been no reports of adverse reactions to the products.

Messages left with the company weren’t immediately returned Wednesday.

Source: Associated Press

Utah Man Charged In Starvation Death of 46 Cows

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:24:02 GMT

A northern Utah man faces criminal charges after 46 cows he was hired to take care of died of starvation, and numerous others were seriously injured or impaired. Jeremiah Daniel Kingston, 29, Box Elder County, along with Natural Choice LLC, Plymouth, UT, were charged with wanton destruction of livestock, a second-degree felony.

According to court documents, Kingston and his company contracted to care for 585 cows, “which included responsibilities to ‘supervise supply of water to livestock,’ ‘moving of livestock around pastures as needed,’ and ‘put forth reasonable efforts to minimize death, loss, and theft.’”

However, prosecutors claim, during the summer of 2018 Kingston and Natural Choice failed to do so. Additionally, say prosecutors, conditions became so “deplorable” that 46 died from starvation while: Many were incapable of walking, numerous cows became unable to produce milk, and many have permanent physical alterations, impairments, or conditions that have ruined the breed line.

Witnesses also observed Kingston “attempting to hide dead cows by dragging them into bushes and covering them with sticks and brush,” the charges state.

Other ranchers pointed out to Kingston numerous times about the poor conditions, but he “consciously chose to ignore the warnings.” The total value of the animals affected totals more than $300,000, court documents state.

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Environmentalist Files Lawsuit Against Rancher

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:49 GMT

A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against San Juan County, Utah, and a local rancher by an environmental rights activist who alleges she was illegally detained and falsely accused in 2017.

Rose Chilcoat, filed the lawsuit this week as a result of the incident in 2017 when she and her husband Mark Franklin, both of Durango, Colo., were detained by rancher Zane Odell’s hands until sheriff’s deputies arrived at Odell’s corral. They later faced charges that they attempted to kill Odell’s cattle by shutting the gate to the corral where the water tank was located.

Charges against Chilcoat were later dropped, but Franklin plead no contest last week to Class A and Class B misdemeanor charges of “trespassing on State Trust Lands [with the intent to do harm].” The couple claim the case was brought as a form of retaliation for Chilcoat’s work with the environmental groups Great Old Broads for Wilderness and Friends of Cedar Mesa.

Chilcoat’s lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Utah states, “Under the Constitution, citizens have the right to express political viewpoints without retaliation by the government. They have the right not to be seized by the government, or persons acting on behalf of the government, without probable cause. They have the right not to have criminal charges filed against them based upon factual misrepresentations. In the case of Rose Chilcoat, all of these rights were violated.”

Originally, the San Juan County Attorney’s Office charged Chilcoat with two misdemeanors: one for trespassing on state trust lands and another for providing false information for identifying herself to police using her married name.

Six days after those initial charges, Chilcoat was issued two new felony charges: attempted wanton destruction of livestock and retaliation against a witness for a letter she sent to the Bureau of Land Management about rancher Odell’s cattle operation.

The lawsuit also seeks damages against Odell for making accusations against Chilcoat he knew to be false and for assault.

“Odell falsely stated to third parties that Ms. Chilcoat had beencaught ‘red-handed’ closing the gate and trying to kill his cattle,” the suit states. “Odell’s false allegations were widely publicized, and subjected Ms. Chilcoat to death threats and other excoriation.”

Related stories:

Utah Trial For Man Accused Of Attempt To Kill Cattle

Anti-Grazing Activist Pleads ‘No Contest’ In Utah Cattle Case

Anti-Grazing Activist Pleads “No Contest” In Utah Cattle Case

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:29 GMT

The Colorado environmental activist charged with trespassing and wanton destruction of livestock in Utah pled “no contest” on Monday, April 1, 2019, to Class A and Class B misdemeanor charges of “trespassing on State Trust Lands [with the intent to do harm].”

Mark Franklin, Durango, Colo., husband of Rose Chilcoat, a radical environmentalist who carries out anti-grazing activities in Colorado and Utah, entered the plea on the opening day of his trial in Utah’s Carbon County. Prosecutors claimed Franklin closed a rancher’s corral gate on grazing lands in southeastern Utah in an attempt to purposely cut the cattle off from water in 2017.

With the “no contest” plea, which is the equivalent of a guilty plea, Franklin was able to avoid more serious felony charges. The court ordered him to pay a $1,000 and, per the terms of his probation, he is barred from entering Utah State Trust Lands for one year.

Chilcoat, who is a member of the environmentalist group “Great Old Broads For Wilderness,” also was originally charged in the scheme but those charges were later dropped.

Chilcoat, who has been associated with Friends of Cedar Mesa, an environmentalist group headquartered in Bluff, Utah, and once served as director for the “Great Old Broads for Wilderness,” has been accused before in Utah for bizarre anti-grazing tactics and efforts to force cattle off the range. She was originally charged in the scheme with Franklin, but those charges were later dropped.

The incident began when Franklin and Chilcoat drove to the corral of rancher Zane Odell, and closed the gate to his cattle’s water source inside the corral. Suspecting the gate was closed with malicious intent, Odell mounted a game camera along the road. When Franklin and Chilcoat returned a few days later they were detained by Odell and Zeb Dalton until sheriff’s deputies arrived.

With evidence showing that the pair was in the same car earlier captured by the game camera, they were charged with “attempted wanton destruction of livestock,” a felony, along with “trespassing on Utah State Trust Lands.” Chilcoat, who then attempted to get the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to review grazing permits held by Odell and Dalton, was later charged with “attempted retaliation against a witness.”

Had he been convicted of the more serious felony charges, Franklin faced up to six years in jail.

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Utah Trial For Man Accused Of Attempt To Kill Cattle

Utah Trial For Man Accused Of Attempt To Kill Cattle

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:21 GMT

A Colorado man accused of trying to kill a Utah rancher’s cattle is scheduled to go to trial next week. Mark Franklin, Durango, Colo., will be tried in Utah’s Carbon County on charges of trespassing and wanton destruction of livestock.

Prosecutors claim Franklin closed a rancher’s corral gate on grazing lands in southeastern Utah in an attempt to purposely cut the cattle off from water in 2017. If convicted, Franklin faces up to six years in jail.

“Mr. Franklin looks forward to his day in court and is confident the evidence will exonerate him,” said Franklin’s attorney, Paul Cassell, a professor of law at the University of Utah.

The case has taken many twists and turns over the past two years, according to The Durango Herald . It began when Utah rancher Zane Odell noticed the closed gate between two pastures. Trail cameras reportedly captured images of a vehicle that stopped at the gate, and, two days later, Odell stopped the same car driving by and called the police.

When deputies arrived, Franklin admitted to closing the gate, though he never offered an explanation of why, other than to say he was “helping” the rancher. Franklin and his wife, prominent local environmentalist Rose Chilcoat, said a large section of fence was down, allowing the cattle access to water. Odell has conceded that point.

The couple were released without charges, but nine days later the San Juan County Attorney’s office filed felony and misdemeanor charges. The Durango couple claim the charges are an act of retaliation for Chilcoat’s years of environmental work with the Great Old Broads for Wilderness in San Juan County, where public lands and grazing issues are highly contentious.

Charges against Chilcoat were dismissed last July for lack of evidence, but Franklin’s trial will begin April 1 in Carbon County after a judge said he would not get a fair trial in San Juan County.

Franklin’s most serious charge is “wanton destruction of livestock,” a third-degree felony that carries up to five years in prison. The second charge, trespassing on state lands, carries up to one year in jail. Chilcoat and Franklin maintain they have never used violence or civil disobedience in all their years of environmental work.

Environmentalist Files Lawsuit Against Rancher

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 20:59:01 GMT

Crimes Against Livestock On The Rise

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:30:39 GMT

Ranchers are reporting a rash of senseless and cruel cattle shootings this year. A Utah official says at least 19 head have been killed in the state since April. Last week a $20,000 reward was announced by the Central Utah Cattlemen’s Association for information regarding the shooting of five cattle owned by a Mayfield rancher.

In North Carolina, four pregnant Angus cows were fatally shot in late July near Waxhaw, the Charlotte Observer reported.

In South Dakota, four Charolais cattle were shot the first week of August in Brookings County, the Brookings Register reported.

Last spring, two cows were shot and killed with a bow and arrow in Wagoner County, Oklahoma.

“This is senseless killing, and it needs to stop,” rancher Eric Lyman, who lost cows in Utah, told the Sanpete Messenger . “We’re willing to pay rewards, and we just ask people to keep their eyes open and report anything that looks funny to the authorities.”

Russell Faatz, who ranches near Manti, Utah, said, “This year, the shootings have really picked up. If people need the meat, that’s one thing, but to let it sit there and rot, that’s just stupid.”

Last October, another Utah rancher, Mark Mecham lost a prized Longhorn bull and Angus steer calf that were shot to death. In April, Ephraim rancher Tom Lund discovered five of his sheep dead and left to rot in a pasture. The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the sheep to have died from gunshot wounds.

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Industry Director Leann Hunting told the Messenger since April, 19 Utah livestock animals have died in their fields by gunshot. She said all of the cases she referenced have remained unsolved, but that “it’s hard to believe they were stray bullets.”

32 Cattle Poisoned by Rat Poison Dumped in Utah Rodeo Arena Water Tank

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:24:14 GMT

A strange poisoning case in Utah has a combined reward of $2,000 to find out who tried to kill 32 cattle at a rodeo arena.

On June 27, rancher Michael Dow, of Tooele, Utah, discovered some of the 32 calves he had loaned to the Tooele Bit N’ Spur Riding Club arena were on their death beds .

Dow says six of the calves were in bad shape. Symptoms included tongues hanging and froth coming from the calves’ mouths, while some had a bloody discharge coming from their noses.

After a closer inspection Dow found approximately 150 pellets of rat poison in the bottom of a water tank in the pen.

“These little pellets start out as dry and then once they’ve been absorbed by the water they start to disintegrate and it goes into them the cattle and ruins their stomach,” Dow tells FOX 13 from Salt Lake City .

Tiny pellets poured into water trough for these cattle are *believed to be rat poison. Who would poison cows? Working on this story for @abc4utah at 10 tonight. pic.twitter.com/h7Ugpf4wWH
— Nick McGurk (@NickMcGurkTV) June 29, 2018

Christine Jones, a volunteer with Bit N’ Spur, says it is “heartbreaking” that someone would intentionally poison cattle like this .

“I don’t know if it’s a vendetta against the Bit N’ Spur; I don’t know if it’s some silly prank that kids are playing, not realizing the severity and the fact that they’re killing an innocent animal,” Jones says.

The cattle have an estimated value of $35,000 and both Dow and Bit N’ Spur are incurring additional costs to help keep the calves alive.

Utah Police: 15-20 Cattle Starve to Death in National Park

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:23:47 GMT

An investigation is underway in Garfield County, Utah after several cattle were found dead and others were found in poor body condition.

A July 25 statement from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office indicates that 15-20 cows and calves were found dead in the Capitol Reef National Park. The cause of death is believed to be starvation.

“The Garfield County Sheriff and Garfield County Attorney take situations such as these extremely seriously and the case is currently being screened for criminal charges,” the Sheriff’s Office statement says.

Animal cruelty charges are being considered by the Sheriff’s Office as the case is still under investigation.

“The ranching community of Garfield County love their livestock and are proud of their heritage and the way they take care of their animals. This incident in no way reflects the care given to the majority of livestock by the cattlemen of Garfield County, and will be dealt with in the appropriate manner,” the statement says.

Other cattle were found to be malnourished, as well. Utah has been going through a drought and the area around Capitol Reef National Park was determined to be in “extreme drought” according to the Drought Monitor on July 26. Authorities indicated that there was very little grazing or water in the area because of dry conditions.

Some of the dead cattle have been removed from the area, but it was not clear if any of the surviving cattle had been gathered from the Capitol Reef National Park.

The recent cattle death case at Capitol Reef National Park follows an announcement from the National Park Service on July 19 seeking input related to the Environmental Assessment Capitol Reef National Park Livestock Grazing and Trailing Management Plan.

“Cattle grazing and trailing have historically been part of the park’s landscape and mandated use, which is why it is important that we develop a plan to continue that use while also preserving the park’s natural and cultural resources,” says Capitol Reef Superintendent Sue Fritzke. “As part of that process, we will continue to work with our permit holders, stakeholders, the public, and local, state and federal partners to ensure a collaborative final product.”

The comment 30-day period for the Grazing and Trailing Management Plan ends on Aug. 17.

Anti-Grazing Activist Pleads “No Contest” In Utah Cattle Case

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:23:08 GMT

Utah Trial For Man Accused Of Attempt To Kill Cattle

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:23:04 GMT

Utah Man Charged In Starvation Death of 46 Cows

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:22:50 GMT