[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 177 (Thursday, October 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H5156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SAGE GROUSE AND COWS CAN COEXIST

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, a recent study that has taken over 10 years 
by the University of Idaho has shown that cattle and sage grouse can 
indeed coexist.
  There has been a great battle for many years over the sage grouse 
habitat in Western States, including in my own district in northern 
California, and the interaction of cattle on that, whether grazing is 
appropriate or not.
  It is found during the study that not only is there no net negative 
effect for light to medium grazing but that it actually can be a 
positive benefit in helping to move about the soil and increase the 
insect biomass that is important for the grouse itself.
  The idea of it being a negative has been dispelled by a very long and 
comprehensive study. It goes to show that what mankind can do with the 
interaction of nature can be very positive.
  Grazing is also very well adapted to fire safety as a plus in our 
forested areas, as well. We need more to be done by the U.S. Forest 
Service to have grazing be part of the solution for wildfire in Western 
States.

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