Salem, Ore. – Ranchers are bringing forward a public declaration of their support for a conservation bill that calls for what the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association is calling a “Natural Resource Conservation Fee.”
The fee works by taking $1 per head assessment at the time of an already required brand inspection.
Brett Brownscombe, acting deputy director for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, believes the bill has great potential to help prevent a Sage-Grouse listing.
The fee is not limited to one species or environmental concern, but goes toward any wildlife or environmental challenge individual counties are facing.
Support for the fee comes from others as well. Tom Sharp, a Harney County rancher, said, “I believe it is important to support the bill because the fee increases will go back to the conservation projects through SWCD offices.”
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