Map showing in the shaded areas the lodgepole-pine type forest stands in Western States. The species occurs in nearly pure forests or in mixture with many other species. Hon. EZRA TAFT BENSON, Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Hon. FRED A. SEATON, Secretary of Interior, Washington, D.C. OCTOBER 10, 1960. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: During the last several years there has been a decline in range use due to deterioration of the Federal range. Our livestock economy is most important to the economic growth of this Nation. Each decade for several generations there have been national timber situation appraisals, but there have been no comparable range appraisals. We find no coordinated national program to foster range development or even a source of statistical data comparable in character or quality to "Timber for America's Future," published by the Department of Agriculture. We request, therefore, that your Departments undertake jointly to make a study similar in scope to be titled, "America's Grazing Lands." In addition to the analysis of livestock usage, there should be included data on browse for game. The rapid growth of our population requires that we take immediate steps to better conserve our natural resources. We cannot delay until the year 2000. We cannot adequately proceed without better factual information on the current and prospective situation. Proper management of the hundreds of millions of acres of rangeland is of vital importance to livestock and game production as well as watershed protection. We therefore, urge that steps be taken at once to commence this study and that it be planned for completion no later than 1963. We urge it be developed in such a manner that future inventories and assessments of progress can be readily made. We believe it essential that there be not only the cooperation of your two Departments but also that the cooperative assistance of the States and private citizens be obtained. Sincerely yours, (Signed) Carl Hayden, U.S. Senator, Arizona; Clair Engle, U. S. Senator, Harlan Hagen, Member of Congress, Clem Miller, Member of Congress, John Moss, Member of Congress, B. F. Sisk, Member of Congress, California; Frank Church, U.S. Senator, Gracie Pfost, Member of Congress, Idaho; Mike Mansfield, U.S. Senator, Lee Metcalf, U.S. Senator, Arnold Olsen, Member of Congress, Montana; Henry Jackson, U.S. Senator, Warren G. Magnuson, U.S. Senator, Washington; Alan Bible, U.S. Senator, Howard Cannon, U.S. Senator, Walter S. Baring, Member of Congress, Nevada; Dennis Chavez, U.S. Senator, Joseph Montoya, Member of Congress, New Mexico; Ed Edmondson, Member of Congress, Tom Steed, Member of Congress, Victor Wickersham, Member of Congress, Oklahoma; Wayne Morse, U.S. Senator, Maurine B. Neuberger, U.S. Senator, Al Ullman, Member of Congress, Oregon; Frank Moss, U.S. Senator, Utah; Gale McGee, U.S. Senator, Wyoming. Hon. LEE METCALF, House of Representatives. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEAR CONGRESSMAN METCALF: This is in reply to your letter of October 10, 1960, bearing the typed signatures of 39 Senators, Congressmen and candidates, requesting that a study of America's grazing lands be conducted by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. The grazing lands of the United States total about 1 billion acres. This is more than half of our total land area and 21⁄2 times larger than the area devoted to crops. Grazing is the largest single use of land in the United States. A study of our grazing resources similar in scope to the recently completed "Timber Resources for America's Future" by the Forest Service would be of unquestionable value. No comparable review and analysis of the Nation's grazing resources has ever been made despite their magnitude and importance in our national economy. However, a thorough appraisal of range resources would present coordination, standardization and organizational problems to a degree that was not encountered in making the timber resource review. Comprehensive appraisals of our timber situation have been made periodically since 1909. The most recent one prior to the timber resource review was in 1945. The resource facts basic to such overall timber appraisals stem largely from the nationwide forest survey, which has been a continuous undertaking of the Department of Agriculture since 1929 under the act of May 22, 1928. No such comparable survey is available for range resources and consequently, there is not agreement on procedures, defintions, classifications, sampling standards, and various other concepts and criteria that are essential prerequisites to an overall resource appraisal. As a consequence, a resource analysis of America's grazing lands comparable in scope and standards to the recent Forest Service report on timber would be both a costly and a time-consuming undertaking. We believe it would be practically impossible to complete such a study by the time suggested in your letter (1963) even if it were started at once. Also, because of its scope and complexity and the necessary involvement of numerous agencies, both Federal and State, we believe special financing would be necessary. The organizational arrangement and responsibilities for making such a range resource study as your letter suggests need to be carefully considered and clearly defined. At the Federal level, the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and De fense would certainly be involved. There are substantial acreages of State-owned grazing land and the State departments of agriculture or conservation would likewise be involved. Private citizen groups would have an interest and presumably would collaborate in at least an advisory capacity. Within the Department of Agriculture several bureaus would be concerned. The Forest Service administers millions of acres of range lands in the national forests and national grasslands. The Soil Conservation Service offers guidance and assistance to ranchers on additional millions of acres of privately owned grazing lands. The Agricultural Research Service and the Forest Service carry out research on rangelands, and the Agricultural Conservation Program Service administers cost-sharing assistance for a variety of range conservation practices by farmers and ranchers. Of the various Federal departments, we believe the Department of Agriculture, not only through its managerial responsibilities on Federal lands, but also in connection with its various activities in research and with private farmers and ranchers, is the Federal department that would be most deeply involved. In summary, we believe that the proposed study of America's grazing lands is a meritorious suggestion. To be worthwhile, it would necessarily be complex, time consuming and costly. Such an appraisal should be undertaken only after careful study of organizational and financing arrangements and assurances of necessary cooperation. Sincerely yours, C. W. FERGUSON, MARCH 13, 1961. Senator CARL HAYDEN, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee, DEAR SENATOR HAYDEN: You will recall that last fall western Democratic Senators, Congressmen, and candidates addressed a letter to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior requesting a study of America's grazing lands. We did so because we have never had a review and an analysis of this great resource, despite the fact that the grazing lands of the United States include more than half our total land area. The rapid growth of our population requires that we conserve, develop orderly and wisely manage our natural resources. Proper management of hundreds of millions of acres of rangeland is important for watershed protection, livestock and mineral production, recreation, fish, and game. To plan and develop these resources, we must know what we have. We are attaching a copy of the letter and a list of the 26 Members of the 87th Congress who signed it, noting that Senator Clinton P. Anderson later assured us that he "will surely be able to work with (us) to accomplish the suggestions of the letter." Under date of November 7, the Department of Agriculture replied to our letter, calling our proposal "meritorious." A copy of the agency's reply is attached. In an attempt to carry out the Department's suggestion that "special financing would be necessary." we have drafted the following language for consideration in preparation of the report on the Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Administration Appropriation Act for fiscal 1962. "Range resource review: For making, and disseminating information with respect thereto (a) a comprehensive survey and appraisal of the extent, type, condition, and ownership, and the present and prospective productivity of the range and pasture lands of the Nation and of the present and prospective requirements for range and pasture resources, $1 million to remain available until expended: Provided, That such amounts thereof may be transferred to other departments as may be needed to finance the portion of such survey and study undertaken by them under cooperative arrangements." We are now engaged in a study of our recreation resources. In the recently completed "Timber Resources for America's Future," the Forest Service gave us an invaluable inventory and made recommendations which must be followed if we are to have the wood we need in the future. We need the same kind of an inventory and blueprint for our great national grazing resources. Sincerely, MIKE MANSFIELD. (The following letters, from the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and from Senator Metcalf were subsequently received:) Hon. CARL HAYDEN, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEAR SENATOR HAYDEN: This is in reply to your request for comment on the value and need for a comprehensive review and appraisal of the Nation's range resources. We believe that a range resource review should be undertaken by the Department of Agriculture. It would have unquestionable value as a basis for public and private programs that will be needed to insure this country's future requirements for these resources. Nearly half the total land area of the United States is grazed by domestic livestock. These lands support a substantial part of the agricultural economy. With this country's rapidly expanding population, it is essential that productivity of these lands be substantially increased in order to meet future demands for livestock. The Secretary of Agriculture has primary Federal responsibility for research and for the conservation programs conducted for the protection and management of the major portion of the Nation's public and private range and pasture resources. In carrying out the proposed range and pasture appraisal, he would cooperate with the Secretary of Interior and with other Federal, State, and private agencies having an interest in the work. This Department has a number of programs that will contribute much information and experience needed for the success of such an appraisal. We administer the extensive rangelands in the national forests and national grasslands and provide programs of assistance to farmers and ranchers. We direct the national cooperative soil survey, and have recently completed the study of conservation needs on private lands in all counties and States. We do all the Federal research on ranges and pastures and related research on livestock. Statistical data and economics research activities pertaining to production and marketing of crops and livestock are centered in this Department. We have done extensive work on range classification concepts and standards. sampling methods, and other procedures for inventorying ranges and pastures. In addition, we carry on extensive cooperation with State agricultural experiment stations, agriculture and conservation departments and extension services. This is important because private lands should be included in this survey and the cooperation of State agencies is essential here. These several management and assistant programs cover three-fourths of the total range and pasturelands in the Nation and the research programs cover all range and pasturelands. Two-thirds of these lands are in private ownership. An adequate appraisal of range and pasture resources would be time consuming and require considerable work for its successful completion. Costs of this undertaking have not been estimated but would be substantial. There are some 490 million acres of rangelands, about 260 million acres of grazed forest lands. and 230 million acres of permanent pasturelands. Substantial portions of these lands have not been covered by range surveys now being made by this Department and by other agencies. The scope and analysis required for this appraisal would be comparable to that of the comprehensive timber resource review recently completed by this Department. As a first step in the inventory phase of a range resource review, further standardization and agreement among agencies as to field survey methods will be required. Following this, considerable fieldwork to collect needed information on range condition and trends, current and prospective productivity. grazing capacities, and response to conservation and improvement practices will be required. This range appraisal should also evaluate prospective demands for various kinds of livestock, the ability of available resources to meet these potential requirements, and means by which the productivity of range and pasturelands can be increased to meet expanding needs for livestock products and at the same time build up and conserve their soil and water values. Sincerely, FRANK J. WELCH, Assistant Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Hon. CARL HAYDEN, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR CARL: This Department strongly favors a nationwide survey and appraisal of our range resources. In view of the central focus of the Department of the Interior on natural resources, including rangelands, it is recommended that the Secretary of the Interior be given the coordinating responsibility for this study. I will submit within the next few days a plan which will provide for the participation of all Federal agencies, States, livestock and other user organizations. This program can be readied so that it can be discussed with and cleared by the affected Federal agencies in this and other departments in time to be put into effect early in fiscal year 1962. Sincerely yours, Senator CARL HAYDEN, STEWART LEE UDALL, Secretary of the Interior. UNITED STATES SENATE, May 8, 1961. COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Chairman, enate Committee on Appropriations, DEAR CHAIRMAN HAYDEN: This will follow up your question on Friday about a practical way to go about the range resources appraisal we discussed during the hearing on H.R. 6345. The decision as to the Department which should make the survey should be made by the Appropriations Committee after recommendations come in from the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. In the Interior Department the Secretary of the Interior has jurisdiction over grazing interests in the Bureau of Land Management, over Taylor Grazing Act lands, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Reclamation. In addition, the Geological Survey is deeply involved by virtue of its responsibilities in soil and water. In the Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service perhaps has as dominant a position as any single bureau in Interior. Other agencies are the Soil Conservation Service, the Agriculture Research Service, who have a direct interest in grazing. Therefore, it is evident that whoever is designated to make the survey, the supervision must be on the secretarial level. Attached is a proposed amendment to provide $250,000 to the Secretary for the study. Sincerely, LEE METCALF. PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO H.R. 6345 On page 38, line 10, following "expended," add a new item: "RANGE RESOURCE APPRAISAL "For expenses necessary for the Secretary of (the Interior), (Agriculture), to initiate, make and disseminate a comprehensive survey and appraisal of America's grazing lands, including their extent, type, condition, ownership, present and prospective productivity and requirements and other pertinent data, under the provisions of the Act of June 28, 1934, as amended (43 U.S.C. 315-3150-1), R.S. 2478; 1946 Reorganization Plan No. 3 (11 F.R. 7876, 43 U.S.C. 1201), the Act of April 27, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 590-a-q-1), the Act of July 14, 1952 (7 U.S.C. 1652); $250,000 to remain available until expended: Provided, That such amounts thereof may be transferred to other Departments as may be needed to finance the portion of such survey and study undertaken by them under cooperative arrangements." |