BLM to Extend Gray Horse ORP Contract?

A new project has been created in ePlanning but no documents have been posted.

The facility provides long-term care and maintenance for up to 2,750 excess animals on a 26,894-acre off-range pasture located on privately lands in Osage County, OK.

The March 2023 Off-Range Facilities Report indicates two such pastures, East and West, with capacities of 1,735 mares and 1,015 geldings, respectively.

Wild horses are removed from their lawful homes on public lands in the western U.S. and sent to these places to die, because most of their food has been assigned to privately owned livestock.

“Excess animals” means more horses than allowed by plan, not more horses than the land can support.

Chigley ORP Contract Extended

A new project was created this week in ePlanning and a Final DNA has been copied to the documents folder.

There are no opportunities for public comment.

The Proposed Action will continue an existing contract with the Chigley Off-Range Pasture to provide long-term care and maintenance for up to 500 excess animals on a 3,662-acre off-range pasture located on privately owned land in Murray County, OK.

Terms of the agreement were not provided, including duration and rates.

The DNA stated that the agency’s obligation to develop and maintain land use plans is limited to public land and interests in public land, which does not extend to animals, such as wild horses and burros.

The WHB Program Office has authorized periodic increases in the population of up to a 10% to accommodate occasional shipments of excess animals to the facility, which has a capacity of 608 mares according to the March 2023 Off-Range Facilities Report.

No Relief in Cost of Feed

The one-horse pony’s economic policies are not working for horse owners, or anybody else for that matter, America’s enemies excepted.

The price of a bale of alfalfa-grass mix was $36 yesterday, 20 bales minimum, putting the cost of feed at $180 per AUM.

The average horse would need about five bales per month.

The price was $19 per bale in July 2021.

Other items on the ticket:

  • Layena Crumbles, 50-pound sack, $29 each
  • Strategy Healthy Edge, 50-pound sack, $35 each
  • Rice bran pellets, nonstabilized, 50-pound sack, $32 each
  • Alfalfa pellets, 50-pound sack, $27 each
  • Sales tax, $93

The drive-out price was $1,184.  Two years ago, the total would have been around $550.

On public lands, forage sells for $1.35 per AUM, meaning the ranchers are paying less than a penny on the dollar to graze their livestock.

They are further subsidized by taxpayer-funded programs such as the wild horse and burro program, which keeps the pests in check, at least in theory.

The nonprofits have assumed a larger role in the process, poisoning the mares and jennies with restricted-use pesticides, and they want you to pay for that too.

RELATED: No Relief in Hay Prices

Momma in Barn 03-05-22

No Relief in Hay Prices

One bale of alfalfa-grass mix cost $36 today, 20 bales minimum, the same as January.

The same bale cost $19 in July of 2021.

The average horse would need around five bales per month, putting the cost of feed at $180 per AUM.

Ranchers pay $1.35 per AUM to graze livestock on America’s public lands, including areas designated for wild horses.

That’s one reason why there are 62,000 such animals in off-range holding.

Let the taxpayers foot the bill.

RELATED: Price of Hay Still in Stratosphere.

Price of Hay Still in Stratosphere

A bale of alfalfa-grass mix fetched $36 today at the local feed store, 20 bales minimum, no change from November.  The single-bale price was $37.

The average horse would need around five bales per month, putting the cost of feed at $180 per AUM.

As for the concentrates, in 50-pound sacks, Equine Senior was $35 and rice bran pellets went for $30 each.

Layena Crumbles, for chickens, sold for $29.

The one-horse pony says his policies are working, which would be true if the goal is to put average American families out of business.

Meanwhile, on the range, the new grazing fee should be announced within days.

Ranchers currently pay $1.35 per AUM to feed their livestock on public lands, a bit less than what they’re paying on private lands, including their own, which explains why they want more wild horses crammed into feedlots at taxpayer expense.

RELATED: No Change in Price of Hay.

That’s a Lot of Water!

News reports said the storm on December 31 dumped five inches of rain in a 24-hour period.

That’s equivalent to 135,771 gallons, or 563 tons, on a one-acre parcel.

The ranch covers 20 acres, for a total of 2.7 million gallons.

Your host spent most of the day cleaning drains and trenches to alleviate flooding.

The creek across the street, which drains a much larger area, was gushing.

RELATED: How Much Rain Did We Get?

The Downside of Big Box Stores

If you find something you like at Home Depot, go buy another one because when you need to replace it, they won’t have it.

The 18″ True Temper rake discussed previously has been out of stock for over a year but a nearby store had them on December 24, so I bought three.

They were $16 each two years ago but the price last week was $20.

Over the summer the local garden center had similar model by Flexrake.  Price was $35.

New Rake

South Dakota Off-Range Pasture Sells for $37 Million

It’s listed as Vale/Geldings in the November Facility Report, covering 47,883 total acres, including 41,882 deeded acres, with a capacity of 1,000 horses, plus cattle.

More information by listing agent.

The seller, a 2009 Powerball winner, doubled his money in the transaction, according to a story by the Dakota Free Press.

The buyer is Kansas-based farm and ranching outfit J-Six South Dakota Land Holdings.

The article did not say if the new owners would continue to stockpile wild horses.

RELATED: Roughing It on the Range.