Kansas Farmer Logo

KLA members set policy regarding lesser prairie chicken 469244

Cattle producers are concerned with rollout of lesser prairie chicken regulations under the Endangered Species Act.

Jennifer M. Latzke, Editor

December 16, 2022

4 Min Read
Prairie chicken
CHICKEN FIGHT: Kansas Livestock Association members gathered for their annual meeting Dec. 2, in Wichita, Kan. Top of mind for many was the recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruling putting the lesser prairie chicken on the “threatened” list under the Endangered Species Act, and needing a third-party approved grazing plan despite the drought.Wirestock/Getty images

Environmental groups continued pressure on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the lesser prairie chicken as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act is one issue that just won’t seem to expire.

The most recent salvo in this game of chicken came on Nov. 25, when USFWS published its final rule to list the lesser prairie chicken as “threatened” in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and parts of Texas; and as “endangered” in New Mexico and other parts of Texas. The one concession to the agricultural industry in this listing was the 4(d) rule, which grants protection to routine agricultural practices on cultivated land in the threatened zone. But that ruling specifically excluded livestock grazing practices from those protections against huge fines and criminal penalties. That is, unless a rancher follows a site-specific grazing plan that has been developed by a USFWS-approved third party.

That’s why at their meeting, Dec. 2, Kansas Livestock Association members approved policy that supports including grazing lands under the 4(d) rule, and cutting that third-party approval of their grazing plans.

Who’s the third party?

This is the sticking point for KLA members, explained Aaron Popelka, vice president of legal and governmental affairs for KLA. He spoke after the KLA meeting at a small press conference with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Ken White of White Exploration, an oil and gas company, in Wichita, Kan.

“For ranchers, the sole individuals — who are the reason this bird continues to exist in Kansas — to continue their operations without the threat of fines from USFWS, we have to get a third-party approved grazing plan signed off on by someone approved by the USFWS,” he said. For example, the extraordinary drought cattle producers have faced required on-the-ground decisions moment by moment regarding stocking rates and other management, Popelka said. This rule now requires someone from Washington, D.C., to approve those decisions. That’s offensive to KLA members, who have been doing the conservation work on their lands to not only manage them for cattle grazing, but also to help wildlife like the lesser prairie chicken, he said.

Even more concerning for KLA is the fact that as of Dec. 2, there were zero third-party organizations approved by FWS to approve any grazing management plans, Popelka said. The logical partner, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, hasn’t been approved. And KLA Environmental Services, which works with cattle producers on environmental plans, hasn’t been approved. Popelka said members are concerned that anti-animal agriculture groups could be approved third parties. And that has far-reaching consequences beyond the lesser prairie chicken’s status.

Timing uncertain

This USFWS ruling also comes four to six months before cattle producers need to make their controlled burn management plans, and five to six months before cattle producers turn out their herds for spring grazing. Considering the USFWS doesn’t quite know how this ruling will be implemented, or what agencies or organizations will be responsible to approve grazing plans — or even how long that approval process will take — it could cause a lot of uncertainty among ranchers. They may not know if they can graze the land in the manner they choose, Popelka said. And with drought already reducing herd numbers, this adds more uncertainty to the cow-calf segment.

For his part, Marshall plans to introduce legislation after the rule goes into effect Jan. 24 that calls for a congressional review of the USFWS ruling. This, he said, doesn’t have to go through committee and just requires 51 votes to pass. On the House side, Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) plans to introduce legislation that says before any species is added to the Endangered Species Act, Congress needs to approve it, taking the authority from the agency. The Kansas delegation also wants the GAO (Governent Accountability Office) to release its findings in issuing this report to be transparent about the science this ruling is based upon, Marshall said.

In all of this, there’s one question that needs to be asked, Marshall said: “What do you have to do to get the chicken off the list?”

If populations rebound after the rains return and the drought passes, like they have in the past, will the lesser prairie chicken be taken off the list?

About the Author

Jennifer M. Latzke

Editor, Kansas Farmer

Through all her travels, Jennifer M. Latzke knows that there is no place like Kansas.

Jennifer grew up on her family’s multigenerational registered Angus seedstock ranch and diversified farm just north of Woodbine, Kan., about 30 minutes south of Junction City on the edge of the Kansas Flint Hills. Rock Springs Ranch State 4-H Center was in her family’s backyard.

While at Kansas State University, Jennifer was a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority and a national officer for the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. She graduated in May 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and a minor in animal science. In August 2000 Jennifer started her 20-year agricultural writing career in Dodge City, Kan., on the far southwest corner of the state.

She’s traveled across the U.S. writing on wheat, sorghum, corn, cotton, dairy and beef stories as well as breaking news and policy at the local, state and national levels. Latzke has traveled across Mexico and South America with the U.S. Wheat Associates and toured Vietnam as a member of KARL Class X. She’s traveled to Argentina as one of 10 IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism. And she was part of a delegation of AAEA: The Ag Communicators Network members invited to Cuba.

Jennifer’s an award-winning writer, columnist, and podcaster, recognized by the Kansas Professional Communicators, Kansas Press Association, the National Federation of Presswomen, Livestock Publications Council, and AAEA. In 2019, Jennifer reached the pinnacle of achievements, earning the title of “Writer of Merit” from AAEA.

Trips and accolades are lovely, but Jennifer says she is happiest on the road talking to farmers and ranchers and gathering stories and photos to share with readers.

“It’s an honor and a great responsibility to be able to tell someone’s story and bring them recognition for their work on the land,” Jennifer says. “But my role is also evolving to help our more urban neighbors understand the issues our Kansas farmers face in bringing the food and fiber to their store shelves.”

She spends her time gardening, crafting, watching K-State football, and cheering on her nephews and niece in their 4-H projects. She can be found on Twitter at @Latzke.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like