oregon cattle

More than 1,500 ranchers graze cattle on federal land in Oregon. Federal agencies report that only 45 are delinquent in paying their grazing fees.

(Les Zaitz/The Oregonian)

Past-due bills owed by cattlemen for grazing on Oregon's federal lands aren't enough to cover the price of a new pick-up truck.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said that as of late April, 45 cattlemen owed a collective $18,759. And most of that is barely past due, with just two ranchers leaving their bills unpaid 60 days or more, considered a truly delinquent account in private business.

The U. S. Forest Service reported an even better record from the 400 permit holders using national forests to feed their cattle. No one is past due with their fees, the agency reported.

The Oregon experience stands in stark contrast to the Nevada rancher who surely is the nation's most infamous deadbeat rancher. Cliven Bundy, whose white hot clash with the BLM recently made national headlines, owes the federal government more than a $1 million for grazing.

By comparison, that's about equal to the fees paid in a single year to the BLM by 1,000 Oregon ranchers.

Under federal law, ranchers can obtain permits or leases to graze their cattle on public land. The amount of land they get to use depends in great part on the amount of forage. The permits provide a set number of what is called an "animal unit month." That's calculated to be the forage to sustain a cow and her calf for a month. Because forage varies widely, the permits set how many cattle can be run on a particular section of land. The cost for each AUM is $1.35.

In Nevada, according to federal court records, Bundy quit renewing his BLM grazing permits in 1992 – and quit paying the grazing fees. A federal judge ordered him off the BLM land, but a second federal judge ruled last July that Bundy's cattle continued munching away on the allotment and were trespassing on other federal land in Nevada.



Years of conflict between Bundy and the BLM boiled into view last month, when the federal agency moved to round up and remove his cattle. Bundy has steadfastly maintained the federal government doesn't own the ground and he has historic rights to graze.

Armed militia from around the country flocked to Bundy's aid to forestall the roundup. The BLM subsequently turned loose the cattle it had seized to avoid bloodshed.

The Nevada Cattlemen's Association in a statement afterwards cited ranchers' grievances with the federal government but said the "rule of law" must be observed.

"Nevada Cattlemen's Association does not condone actions that are outside the law in which citizens take the law into their own hands," the statement said.

The Oregon Cattlemen's Association shows no similar statement on its website.

That's likely because there is little apparent dispute over grazing fees. The Forest Service said its Oregon operation couldn't find any record of legal action against a rancher going back a decade.

And BLM officials said most ranchers quickly settle their debts.

Of the sum listed as delinquent, $11,674 was no more than 15 days late at the most.

Jeff Clark, BLM public affairs officer in Portland, said the agency has 1,100 permit holders. He said in most circumstances, grazing fees must be paid before ranchers can release their cattle onto public land. Ranchers risk not being allowed on if the bill isn't paid, which promotes prompt payment, Clark said.

-- Les Zaitz