First off, regional veterinary experts are not very keen on his "buffer plan" around Yellowstone National Park for Brucellosis.
The veterinary officials said the buffer plan, or regionalization, would be expensive and labor-intensive, and would cause an unnecessary division within the state that could harm the state's export market.
So, a buffer zone could still affect the state as a wholes ability to market cattle. I never considered that. I knew it would be expensive and labor consuming which would be extremely unfair to those people who live in the zone but I had never considered the other aspect. This proposal is looking very grim.
The other story comes from abroad. It appears China is going to kill their plans for converting coal to fuel "due to concerns about the expense and energy demands" that this process requires. Now Governor Brian Schweitzer has been very big into pushing for this in Montana. If one of the largest polluters in the world, China, thinks it is going to be too expensive, what's it going to be like for Montanans? One of the things that always got me about the whole coal to fuel proposal is the Governors claim that it would use no water. A major industrial process that uses no water? Why is this one of the Chinese concerns?.
Concern about the expense and water demands of such projects were also expressed, Xinhua said.
I know this doesn't specify the amount of water used, but it is expressed as a concern. Why, if as our Governor states, this uses no water, would they be concerned about the water the process uses?
This whole thing really looks bad for Schweitzer's coal to fuel idea. If China is afraid of doing it, why is our Governorso hot and bothered to jump in with both feet?
Really looks like some bad news for our Governor but his supporters won't care. They will continue to tout him as the savior of Montana and Democrats in general. When will the polish finally rub off and people realize he is just a man like any other with no special, mystical attributes? I'm really beginning to doubt people will ever see.
If you don't change, reality in the end forces that change upon you. Stuart Wilde
I'd started to reply to your anti-organic diatribe, as well as this one, but better sense prevailed plus I had to pursue more profitable ventures.
But then it dawned on me. The Stockgrower convention was in Lewistown last week. Of course!
I've seen this before. The State Vets don't want Montana to regionalize, because well, that would de-fang the big club they're able to hold over the State as is. I once heard Tom Linfield, our former State Vet put that to Schweitzer in terms that could easily be construed as blackmail. It went over about as well as it would with you or me, Sam.
With that said, I don't think Tom's heart was really in it, and that no doubt came to bear why he moved on to APHIS, where you're a little more insulated from dissent.
At least Arnold Gertonson, our even more former State Vet seems to think so. I wonder if Jeanne Rankin will follow the logical progression. I'd guess so. I'm frankly pretty disappointed in her. We grew up in the some neighborhood, up in Napi's Country. She appears all too willing to be the Stockgrower mouthpiece. Good luck with that, Dr.
Now if brucellosis eradication were feasible in any sort of near or even medium term, that'd be different. But it's not, and what Arnold won't tell you is wildlife vaccines are a pipe dream. Sure, research your careers out, guys, more power to you. APHIS eradicates disease via capture/test/slaughter.
With bison, maybe.
Elk? Be serious. Not to mention I cannot think of a better way to drive a huge wedge between you, your customers, and the rest of the population even right here at home. Believe me, not many other industries think along these lines. Blind arrogance, perhaps...?
Personally, if I ranched anywhere other than Emigrant (really, the ONLY neighborhood that poses significant risk) I'd think a buffer zone would be a good idea. Various unsafe sex analogies come to mind.