Its been brought up in some of the other posts-- but one of the big discussion points in our area lately is that some of the grazing associations/Districts have apparently received word that the Guvment (BLM, Fish and Wildlife, Forest Service(?), reservations, etc. ) is looking at starting to figuring AUM's on the size of the cows you run- or the amount of gain on yearlings- in the next few years (which I understand is already being done in portions of Canada)......
The numbers I've heard thrown out were that a 1100lb-1200 lb cow with a calf would be figured as 1 AUM- and that for every 100 pounds over 1200 lbs they would add .1 AUM so a 1500 lb cow would count 1.3 AUM's against your allotment.....That on yearlings they would be weighed in when going into the grass- and weighed off when coming off- and AUM would be figured on amount of gain....
One of the comments today in the discussion I heard- was How would the "Guvement" know the size of cows you run or which ones you have on the government allotments :???:
Then all you have to do is look back at the original Guvement NAIS mandatory ID plan- and the rule that all cattle moving onto or off any government land (BLM, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife, reservation) need to be inspected (and numbers recorded) whenever they are moved.... :???: