Recently, MB McAfee was criticized for participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
CRP, established in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan, is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the U.S. and has “improved water quality, reduced soil erosion and increased habitat for endangered and threatened species.”
From 1995 to 2006, more than 1,000 Montezuma County families participated, bringing over $51 million to our local economy.
The program has strict criteria to qualify and implement.
The McAfees planted native grasses for long-term sustainable grazing. They are now enrolling in the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) that allows cattle-grazing on CRP lands. They have invested their CRP payments into their land, including $75,000 this summer for fencing supplied by local vendors and installed by local labor.
The GRP requires that 10 percent of the land be fenced to grow species for pollinators. In order to establish pollinator plants, the competing weeds and grasses must be removed.
The McAfees work closely with their rancher to systematically graze the fields to improve the soil and health of the grass. The “moonscape” is a result of the current drought and intentional over-grazing to reduce competition for pollinator plants. Their vision is “healthy soil, healthy grasses, nourished cattle, happy rancher... and a grass-fed steak on our plate every now and then.”
I can think of no one better to serve as county commissioner than MB, who has exhibited stewardship on her own dryland farm to provide healthy agricultural land for generations to come.
Jane C. Anderson
Dolores
