Help Ranchers Like Marvin: Support voluntary grazing permit retirement legislation

Permit retirement is essential to securing economically and ecologically robust rural communities for future generations. Ranchers want it, conservationists want it, sportsmen want it. Our biggest obstacle is animal agriculture groups who believe that production agriculture should be held above all other uses on public lands. Supporting and elevating the voices of ranchers who want the option to voluntarily retire their permits is our pathway to success.

Photo Credit: Michael Stevens

Recipients

Senator Martin Heinrich
Senator Tom Udall

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Dear [Decision Maker],

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I recently watched the film "Alamocita: Marvin's Legacy" about a rancher on the Gila National Forest who wants to retire his grazing permit, but hasn't been able to due to the lack of authorizing legislation. I am moved by Marvin's story and admire his pioneering spirit. I want to support pioneers like him who envision and act for a better future for our public lands.

As a public lands lover and supporter of rural America, I am writing to ask that you help Marvin and ranchers like him retire their grazing permits. Voluntary permit retirement is key to helping ranchers adapt to the changing economic and environmental conditions of the modern American West and to resolving long-standing natural resource conflicts.

As a long-time conservation champion, you have deftly navigated the natural resource conflicts that can arise from the competing interests of wildlife, watershed health, and livestock grazing on New Mexico's public lands. I commend your leadership in supporting rural communities whose cultures and economies are tied to livestock production while simultaneously advancing landmark conservation efforts.

I believe that permanent voluntary grazing permit retirement is one of the best tools to resolve these conflicts while also addressing the economic challenges that face rural New Mexicans. We urge you to continue to prioritize your vision for delivering economic security and conservation to rural New Mexico by including authorization for statewide voluntary grazing permit retirement in the FY2021 Interior Appropriations Act.

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