As lawmakers wrangle with deficits, House cuts legislative budget

As lawmakers wrangle with deficits, House cuts legislative budget By Bruce Krasnow and Andrew Oxford | The New Mexican | 15 hours ago As New Mexico lawmakers work to rebalance government spending for the current fiscal year and prepare to craft a spending package for fiscal year 2018, state House members have agreed to cut their own funding. In a unanimous vote Thursday evening, the House decided to shave about 2.5 percent from the Legislature’s budget and revert some of its own reserve funds. The move follows lawmakers’ decision during a special session last fall to cut 3 percent of legislative spending. The bill will save about $1 million overall, leaving a budget of about $8.7 million for the 60-day session. The original bill called for a legislative budget of about $24.4 million, funding not just the session but also year-round legislative staff and committees that meet in the months between sessions.

Pearce named to Natural Resources Committee

Pearce named to Natural Resources Committee By Laura Paskus | January 19, 2017 Last week, House Republicans announced members of the House Committee on Natural Resources for the 115th Congress. That list included Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico who had previously served on the committee from 2003 through 2009. In a statement from his office, Pearce said he plans to work on “restoring the health of our national forests, ensuring multiple use on appropriate federal lands, allowing Native American communities to grow and prosper, fighting for New Mexico water, preserving our national treasures and landmarks to safeguard them for future generations and more.” NM Political Report asked Pearce’s chief of staff Todd Willens for more details about the congressman’s plans. Willens declined to provide additional information, but wrote in an email that “as the agenda for the committee reveals itself, the Congressman will update the public.” This session, the committee is chaired by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, a proponent of private property and states’ rights and an opponent of any new national monument designations. Bishop announced last week the Republican members of the committee will “strengthen an aggressive agenda that we will pursue in partnership with a new administration.” The committee, which includes 26 Republicans and 18 Democrats, considers legislation on a wide range of issues important to New Mexico, including public lands management, energy and mining, American Indians, fisheries, wildlife and irrigation.

States argue in court for more say over endangered species Dan Elliott, Associated Press January 18, 2017 Updated: January 18, 2017 2:23pm

Dan Elliott, Associated Press January 18, 2017 Updated: January 18, 2017 2:23pm 0 FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2011, file photo, a female Mexican gray wolf at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in central N.M. Republicans in Congress are readying plans to roll back the reach of the Endangered Species Act after decades of complaints that it hinders drilling, logging and other activities on public lands. Over the past eight years, GOP lawmakers sponsored dozens of measures aimed at curtailing the landmark law or putting species such as gray wolves and sage grouse out of its reach. Almost all were blocked by Democrats and the White House or lawsuits from environmentalists. Photo: Susan Montoya Bryan, AP / Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Photo: Susan Montoya Bryan, AP Image 1 of 2 FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2011, file photo, a female Mexican gray wolf at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in central N.M. Republicans in Congress are readying plans to roll back the reach of the Endangered ... more DENVER (AP) — The federal government asked an appeals court Wednesday to overturn an order that bars the release of endangered wolves in New Mexico without the state's permission, a skirmish in a broader battle over states' rights and the Endangered Species Act. New Mexico and 18 other states argue that the law requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to cooperate with them on how endangered species are reintroduced within their borders. Federal attorneys counter that the law allows the agency to go around a state, if necessary, to save a species. Many of the arguments attorneys made to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Wednesday focused on the legality of the court order restricting the release of more wolves, not the broader issue of the states' role in restoring endangered species. But in hundreds of pages of court filings, the states and the federal government staked out opposing positions on who has the final say. The fight is unfolding amid uncertainty about the future of the Endangered Species Act. Congress and the White House will both be controlled by Republicans who generally see it as an impediment to jobs and economic development. And even if the court sides with the Fish and Wildlife Service, it's not clear whether president-elect Donald Trump's administration will continue to fight after he takes office. The dispute before the 10th Circuit is over a Fish and Wildlife Service program to restore the Mexican gray wolf to parts of its original range in New Mexico and Arizona. New Mexico has multiple complaints about the way the program is managed, and in 2015 it refused to issue a permit to Fish and Wildlife to release more of the predators in the state. New Mexico also announced it might sue the agency. Fish and Wildlife decided to release more wolves anyway, citing an urgent need to expand the wild population to prevent inbreeding. New Mexico officials went to court, and a federal judge in New Mexico issued a preliminary injunction last year blocking further releases while the dispute is resolved. At Wednesday's hearing, Justice Department attorney Rachel Heron argued against the state's rights position, saying the Interior Department — Fish and Wildlife's parent agency — is required by law to protect the wolves. A coalition of environmental groups, led by Defenders of Wildlife, intervened on Interior's side, arguing the state's interpretation would wrongly give the state veto power over measures to save a federally protected species. New Mexico state attorney Matthias L. Sayer told the judges that Fish and Wildlife had made it difficult for the state to manage big game because of uncertainty about how many wolves — which prey on big game — would be released. But one of the judges, Scott Matheson Jr., questioned whether New Mexico could show definitively that it would be harmed by the release of more wolves, and how much harm it would suffer. The three judges who heard the case did not say when they would decide. Appeals court judges generally take weeks or months to issue a ruling. Reintroducing wolves is always contentious because they sometimes attack domestic livestock as well as wild game. Last year, the Interior Department's internal watchdog said Fish and Wildlife had not fulfilled its obligation to remove Mexican gray wolves that preyed on pets and cattle. The Mexican wolf program has had other problems, including multiple failed attempts to update the original 1982 recovery plan. Fish and Wildlife has agreed to produce a new plan this year to settle a lawsuit filed by conservation groups. New Mexico officials also complain that federal officials tripled the target number of wolves in the wild — from about 100 to 300 — without sufficient justification. Only about 100 Mexican gray wolves live in the wild. They nearly disappeared in the 1970s, and the federal government added them to the endangered species list in 1976. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began reintroducing them in New Mexico and Arizona starting in 1998. ___

Mid Day Cattle Comment

Mid Day Cattle Comment Marketing Spring Cattle Inventory Webinar, Tuesday January 10th @ 4:00pm cst. Register Here January 10, 2017 Live Cattle: First off, if you have currency risk or dealings in your operation, my analysis suggests the US dollar index has reversed. Whether short term or long, I anticipate a retracement of some significance in the US dollar index. This leads me to recommend that what ever countries currency you are doing business with, you secure that exchange rate as soon as possible. Cattle are firming this morning with all contract months but the February setting a new high in this rally from contract low. The technical indicators are poised to again create a divergence pattern. With all oscillator readings currently well below previous high, and price setting new highs, it won't be difficult to see this pattern develop. Further subtle changes are being noted this morning from the weather to improving exports. There remains nothing specific that one could point to that is a prominent leader of this rally. I perceive it to be more just some subtle changes that have broken the back of the bear market. Funds apparently continue to think so, as they have widened their girth further into the market. Open interest is now above 315,000 contracts. Just 2 months ago, it fluctuated under 250,000 contracts. I'm looking forward to discussing the markets this afternoon. I hope you can join me. Feeder Cattle: Feeders have developed a slightly different pattern than that of the fats. The March contract appears to have topped its wave 3 on 12/1 at $126.47. From there, it appears that a complex sideways pattern has emerged as the wave 4 correction. This leads me to anticipate a wave 5 rally to approximately $133.20 March. This is only $3.00 above the previous target that has yet to be met. With the time and price that has transpired from previous recommendations, I recommend revisiting how much more protection you need, and potentially more specific time frame to be marketing in. In this afternoon's discussion, I'll present the strategy I perceive to compliment the current environment in an attempt to reduce price risk for this spring's marketing's. Corn: Grains are mixed this morning. That may not last long depending on how quickly the US dollar begins fall, if at all. The more news I hear out of north Texas through Oklahoma about the drying conditions there, leads me to think the wheat may have some legs under it for a little while. Corn is anticipated to continue to move sideways. Beans above $10.16 March will go a long way in breaking short term down trend lines and exceeding previous highs. The bean oil has begun to show some strength again. Recall it was the previous leader of the complex. Account Forms: FutureSource: Christopher B. Swift Swift Trading Company 144 Second Avenue North Nashville, TN 37201 877-863-2206 615-844-2206 http://www.shootinthebull.com/

Cotton Meeting Wednesday 11 January 2017

If anyone is planning on attending the Cotton growers meeting in Ruidoso on Wednesday, you will get the latest and accurate information on Enlist Duo. The competition is spreading factually inaccurate information on Enlist Duo. We will also have the Spray Trailer there to demonstrate the Technology. The spray Trailer will also be in Ruidoso for the NM Crop Production meeting in two weeks. Dicamba is far more volatile than 2,4-D Choline, plus a 30 ft buffer vs a 110 ft buffer and Glyphosate is in Enlist Duo while the other is a standalone dicamba and nothing can be added, plus many other differences you need to be aware of. I will be out of state for a funeral but look forward to seeing you at the Crop production meeting on the 23rd. Thanks Greg

MALTA STAR-THISTLE INVASION

MALTA STAR-THISTLE INVASION Malta star-thistle (Centaurea melitensis L.) was first found in Eddy County around 2003 or so along the truck by pass in Carlsbad. I carry a hoe in the truck for such occurrence and have rouged out a number of new invasive weed when I see them. I was too late for this one however; I did rouge out a patch only to find 20 or more patches down the highway. Since that time this weed has been the target of the Eddy County weed management group who have done their very best to stop this weed. The fact it has taken 13 years for it to become a major concern is a testament to their work. But like the Russian thistle (tumble weed) it can now be found in the just about everywhere in the county and is moving from disturbed site such as road sides into fields and landscapes. It is a winter annual with a spiny yellow flowered head that reaches about 3 feet higher but under good growing condition can reach 4 feet. The spins are less than an 1.5 inches, which distinguishes it from its cousin yellow star-thistle. It reproduces by seed and can produce 1-60 seeds per flowering head. The leaves are withered usually by flowering time. This is a tricky weed though. It germinates in the fall, like the mustard, as soon as it has two true leaves it bolt and send up one flower that will have 1-5 seed in all less than 3 inches tall. So it is difficult to mow this flower off and it a guaranteed species survival for another year or more. There have been six biological control insects released for yellow star thistle. These insects feed on the seed thus reducing seed production. It is a wait and see if they can also help with Malta, so far as I know we don’t have any in the state yet. Chemical control if applied at the right time of year works well. The systemic herbicides clopyralid or picloram work well when applied between December and April in rangeland or roadside applications. These chemicals will kill trees and other desirable broad leaf plants. Once the flower is set, chemical application don’t do the job. In alfalfa fields the use of the mustard herbicides when there are mustard weed present may help. Clorpyralid and picloram will kill alfalfa and other perennial broad leaf plants like pecan trees, so you cannot use them. Sheep and goat like to graze this weed until it gets the spiny flower. It has no toxic effect but once the spine form they can lodge in the mouth and tong causing problems; however most animals will not try it. Cattle don’t seem to have any desire to feed upon it at any stage. This weed is almost imposable to control by mechanical methods. For homeowner in landscape situations all you can do is hoe of cut the tops off catching the seed head and disposing them in a dumpster, but as described earlier there are those survival seeds that are produced without much notice. Because of flooding in the past there is a lot of seed in the fields and if you do not spry for mustard it will get worse. The seed will not germinate until late fall. You can control the mustard and this weed too hopefully with good applications. Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

EPA Releases Final Analysis of Metals Released from Gold King Mine in the Animas and San Juan Rivers

EPA Releases Final Analysis of Metals Released from Gold King Mine in the Animas and San Juan Rivers WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final fate and transport report for the Gold King Mine (GKM) release. The report focuses on understanding pre-existing river conditions, the movement of metals related to the GKM release through the river system, and the effects of the GKM release on water quality. The research supports EPA’s earlier statements that water quality in the affected river system returned to the levels that existed prior to the GKM release and contamination of metals from the release have moved through the river system to Lake Powell. "This report is a comprehensive analysis of the effects on water quality from the Gold King Mine release," said Dr. Thomas A. Burke, EPA's Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Research and Development. “While data indicate that water quality has returned to pre-event conditions, EPA is committed to continue our work with States and Tribes in the river system affected by the Gold King Mine release to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.” The area affected by the Gold King Mine release consists of complex river systems influenced by decades of historic acid mine drainage. The report shows the total amount of metals, dominated by iron and aluminum, entering the Animas River following the release --- which lasted about nine hours on August 5, 2015 --was comparable to four to seven days of ongoing GKM acid mine drainage or the average amount of metals carried by the river in one to two days of high spring runoff. However, the concentrations of some metals in the GKM plume were higher than historical mine drainage. As the yellow plume of metal-laden water traveled downstream after the release, the metal concentrations within the plume decreased as they were diluted by river water and as some of the metals settled to the river bed. There were no reported fish kills in the affected rivers, and post-release surveys by multiple organizations have found that other aquatic life does not appear to have suffered harmful short-term effects from the GKM plume. The concentrations of metals in well-water samples collected after the plume passed did not exceed federal drinking water standards. No public water system using Lake Powell as a source of drinking water has reported an exceedance of metals standards since the release. Some metals from the GKM release contributed to exceedances of state and tribal water quality criteria at various times for nine months after the release in some locations. Metals from the GKM release may have contributed to some water quality criteria exceedances during the spring 2016 snow melt. Other exceedances may reflect longstanding contributions of metals from historic mining activities in the region and natural levels of metals in soils and rocks in the area. EPA will continue to work with states and tribes to interpret and respond to these findings. Results from this analysis will inform future federal, state and tribal decisions on water and sediment monitoring. EPA will continue to work with states and tribes to ensure the protection of public health and the environment in the river system affected by the Gold King Mine release. Read the final report, “Analysis of the Transport and Fate of Metals Released From the Gold King Mine in the Animas and San Juan Rivers”: https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_file_download.cfm?p_download_id=530074 Read the report’s executive summary: https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_file_download.cfm?p_download_id=530075 More information on the Fate and Transport analysis: https://www.epa.gov/goldkingmine/fate-transport-analysis More information on the 2015 Gold King Mine incident: https://www.epa.gov/goldkingmine R005