2013 News Releases
Oil and Gas Inspections Falling Further Behind
With new data showing that state and federal oil and gas agencies are not keeping up with the rise in oil and gas drilling, members of the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) are calling attention to the need for state and the federal governments to fund more inspectors and increase penalties for violating public health, safety and environmental laws.
Powder River Basin ranchers support investigation of coal mine royalties
Farmers and ranchers living in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming welcome a congressional investigation into whether U.S. taxpayers are receiving full royalties from coal mined on federal lands.
2012 News Releases
WORC welcomed new rules proposed today by the Bureau of Land Management. North Dakota rancher Donald Nelson, Chair of WORC’s Oil and Gas Campaign Team, issued this statement.
2011 News Releases
USDA & Corporate Agribusiness Continue to Push Animal ID Scheme
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a new proposed rule for mandatory animal traceability. While USDA already has traceability requirements as part of existing animal disease control programs, the proposed rule goes much further to require animal tagging and tracing without specific disease threats. The rule has raised significant concerns among family farm and ranch advocates, who accuse the agency of failing to provide a coherent, factual explanation of the program’s necessity.
Landowners seek disclosure of chemicals used in oil and gas fields.
Residents in oil and gas fields across the country are reporting more health problems, air pollution, and water contamination, and one group is demanding strict disclosure of chemicals used in oil and gas development and stronger standards to prevent contamination.
Landowner group urges reform of federal oil and gas bonding program
On Friday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, Oil and Gas Bonds: BLM Needs a Comprehensive Strategy to Better Manage Potential Oil and Gas Well Liability.
2010 News Releases
Alfalfa study not worth a straw
Two groups representing farmers, ranchers and consumers have urged the Department of Agriculture to redo its study on the deregulation of Monsanto’s genetically modified alfalfa.
Study shows need for changes to federal oil and gas bonding program
A new report released today by the Government Accountability Office found that oil and gas bonds were insufficient to pay for reclamation, but were based on minimum regulatory amounts.
Statement by WORC on decision to drop the animal identification program
I and my fellow members of WORC are pleased with Secretary Vilsack’s decision to scrap the proposed National Animal Identification System. Livestock producers from across this nation recognized that this proposal was intrusive, expensive, and unworkable, and we told this to Secretary Vilsack in as clear as terms as possible.
Resistance to genetically modified wheat still strong in foreign markets
Introduction of genetically modified (GM) wheat would drastically drop the price of wheat for farmers in the United States, according to a report released by WORC. A Review of the Potential Market Impacts of Commercializing GM Wheat in the U.S. concludes the price of U.S. hard red spring wheat would fall 40%, and the price of durum wheat would drop 57%.
2009 News Releases
Groups seek review of phased development for coalbed methane in Powder River Basin
Landowner and environmental groups are asking the federal government to use phased development as a means to lessen the impacts of oil and gas development on water, farmers and ranchers, and wildlife. The groups filed an appeal today to a recent court decision on coalbed methane development (CBM) in the Powder River Basin. (1/22/09)
2008 News Releases
Small scale biodiesel could fuel your truck and feed your cows
New WORC report provides ranchers with nutritional information about using oilseed meal byproducts from biodiesel production from crops in the Northern Great Plains. (3/05/08)
Loss of packer ban won’t slow efforts for fair and competitive markets
Western ranchers plan to keep pushing for livestock market reforms despite the failure of the Farm Bill Conference Committee to ban meatpacker ownership of live cattle prior to slaughter. (5/2/08)
Ranchers want JBS merger stopped
In written testimony submitted today, WORC told a Senate subcommittee that acquisition of two large meatpackers by JBS Swift would mean lower prices paid to cattle feeders and independent producers and that the merger should be stopped. (5/7/08)
Statement on Final Farm Bill
he Farm Bill has missed opportunities in two key areas. First, the bill fails to make livestock markets fairer and competitive. Second, the Farm Bill did not set up a biofuels feedstock reserve policy to help control price spikes and market volatility. (5/9/08)
WTO Talks Should Cease
WORC today called on U.S. trade negotiators to abandon current World Trade Organization (WTO) talks. (7/25/08)