College of Agriculture, University of Arizona,
Arizona Land and People, Vol. 47, Number 2
"We're Not Out of the Drought Yet"The latest severe drought in Navajo country brought a "triple whammy," says Gerald Moore, coordinating extension agent in Window Rock. The severe drought, combined with low market prices and what Gerald calls "hollow belly disease" took Navajo ranchers to the brink of disaster. "We're not out of the drought yet," Gerald says. "We must continue careful cattle management, but we're getting more experience. We're looking at continued education for ranchers. If the situation comes again, we'll be prepared to adjust quickly." Navajo Nation herds are privately owned; some herds are as small as 10 head of cattle, two sheep and two horses. Of course, many are larger. Since the 1930s, the land has been open range, with few fences. Individual ranches became smaller and several herds grazed the same land as cattle inherited from "grandfather" were dispersed among all family members. Over time, an increasing number of people owned an increasing number of cattle, spelling disaster when droughts limited forage. Gerald Moore is working with The Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture to implement the Uniform Grazing Act. The law helps control livestock by requiring more fences and imposing grazing fees. Only a certain number of grazing permits are issued; inevitably some people won't have the permits. "The number one bottom line of the Act is preserving our reservation. If we don't care for our land, we will lose what we bank on," Gerald says. This new Navajo law is revolutionary, and ranchers need help adjusting to it. Gerald uses a ranchers roundtable. Ranchers get together in the evening to talk about problems and get answers to their questions. He also is working with grant funds obtained through UA Extension livestock specialist Robert Kattnig. A program of short courses will be aimed at local grazing committee members, Farm Board, and Land Board members. Another grant still in the proposal stage will involve computer software. The software will help determine where ranchers need to make management changes- before problems become too difficult. He's planning to train grazing committee members and individual ranchers to collect ranch land data. "Producers have always needed to watch trends, but until now, they haven't had the equipment to do so," Gerald says. Document part of 1999 Native American Programs in the College of Agriculture |