Rising energy costs are likely to increase the demand for range 

 forage, the product of natural processes using energy from the sun. 



Environmental Constraints 



Producers of livestock could be affected by several 

 forms of environmental constraints, including limita- 

 tions on the use of pesticides and feed additives, 

 restrictions on tillage practices, restrictions on soil 

 erosion, controls upon irrigation water discharge, and 

 animal waste disposal. Most of the environmental 

 constraints would favor increased feeding of forage 

 and greater range grazing and cause decreases in use 

 of grains. However, rising energy prices may mitigate 

 part of the restrictive impacts of stricter environ- 

 mental controls upon waste disposal from animal 

 feedlots. Manure may become an economical substi- 

 tute for high energy-using chemical fertilizers, thus 

 solving the disposal problems. ^^ Similarly, environ- 

 mental constraints and higher energy costs will 

 impact on pasture and range improvements and vege- 

 tation manipulation. In any event, while it is evident 

 that tighter regulations can be expected to increase 

 the cost of meat to the consumer, it is not certain to 

 what degree the mix of grain, pasture, and range used 

 will be affected. The general conclusion, however, is 

 that environmental constraints will improve the eco- 

 nomic advantage of grazing relative to grains and 

 harvested forages as sources of livestock feed. 



5' Hodgson, H. J., and R. E. Hodgson. Changing patterns in 

 beef cattle production. Agri. Sci. Rev. 8(4): 16-24. 1970. 



Federal Lands 



Wilderness. — Classification of Federal land areas 

 into wilderness under provisions of the Wilderness 

 Act of 1964 has had some effect on Federal range 

 grazing. Although the Act permits grazing to con- 

 tinue where it was established prior to the effective 

 date of the Act (September 3, 1964), meeting other 

 requirements of the Act has been somewhat inhibit- 

 ing to range use of these areas. Proposed range devel- 

 opments in wilderness must be limited to those that 

 leave the classified areas essentially unimpaired for 

 future use and enjoyment as wilderness. A 1978 study 

 of National Forest System roadless areas (ise., RARE 

 II) for prospective classification into wilderness indi- 

 cated a reduction in grazing of about 500,000 AUM's 

 may occur if all the studied areas were classified as 

 wilderness. 



Endangered species. — Another factor potentially 

 restrictive to achievement of Federal range grazing 

 potential is associated with requirements of the 

 Endangered Species Act of 1973. Some plants, pro- 

 posed for classification as endangered and threat- 

 ened, are present today because of grazing; the habi- 

 tat for others can be improved with improved grazing 

 management; while other species require total protec- 

 tion from grazing. To meet the provisions of the Act, 

 all Federal programs must be carefully analyzed to 

 determine the potential for harm in each situation 

 and to provide for protection and conservation of the 

 classified species. To date, the impact upon Federal 

 range programs has been minimal because none of 

 the plants (as of July 1, 1979) classified as endangered 

 or threatened has been so classified because of graz- 

 ing. The potential impact will depend upon the needs 

 of species classified and the nature of future programs. 



Wild horses and burros. — A potentially inhibiting 

 situation which would constrain expansion of grazing 

 for livestock applies only to Federal lands adminis- 

 tered by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land 

 Management. The Wild Horses and Burros Protec- 

 tion Act of 1971 directs that wild horses and burros 

 be considered an integral part, or component, of the 

 natural system on the public lands where they were 

 found as of 1971. Forage and other habitat require- 

 ments for wild free-roaming horses and burros in 

 established territories must be considered when use of 

 the range is being allocated. However, the 1976 wild 

 horse and burro population consumed less than four- 

 tenths of 1 percent of all range grazing and less than 

 5 percent of the grazing on Federal lands adminis- 

 tered by the two agencies. 



