Gov. Mead and Legislators Address Wyoming Agricultural Issues

CASPER, Wyo. — Governor Matt Mead plans to continue pressuring federal officials to address what he describes as a broken Endangered Species Act and inadequatewild horse managementpractices in Wyoming.

Mead addressed ranchers at the annual winter meeting of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, emphasizing that while Wyoming leads in agricultural andfederal landsissues, several key matters remain unresolved.

The governor stated his intention to continue litigation to pressure the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Congress to consider alternatives forwild horse management.

Federal officials gathered over 1,200 wild horses from the checkerboard lands of southwest Wyoming in September. The agency spends more than $80 million nationwide onwild horse management, and the BLM’s long-term holding facilities in Rock Springs are nearing capacity.

Following the release of his supplemental budget request earlier in the week, Mead urged legislators to consider a shift in state spending for the coming year.

Several Wyoming legislators participated in a forum on agricultural issues facing the Legislature at Wednesday’s meeting.

Rep. Hans Hunt, R-Newcastle, Wyo., introduced proposedlegislationto increase spending on technical education in the state.

Hunt explained that his proposal would mirror Wyoming’s Hathaway Scholarship program for the University of Wyoming, aiming to provide financial support for students in agricultural and technical fields.

Newly appointed agriculture committee member Leland Christensen indicated that the panel would continue work on a bill banning the use of natural resource data obtained by trespassing on private lands.

The bill establishes the crime of trespass to unlawfully collect resource data, with penalties of up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for a first offense, and a sentence of 10 days to a year in jail for repeat offenses.

Mead joined Wyoming’s federal delegation in opposing the Endangered Species Act during the convention. Members of the Wyoming delegation pledged to continue efforts to amend what they consider flawedlegislationafter the holiday recess.

Originally Posted By Billings Gazette