Filippinis asks for support in turning out cows

Ranchers who have been at the center of a contentious grazing dispute are hoping supporters will help turn out cattle 10 a.m. today on an allotment near Valmy, about 15 miles west of Battle Mountain. Eddyann Filippini said cowboys will initially turn out 90 head of cattle on the North Buffalo allotment. The Filippini ranch was one of several family-operated permit holders that grazed cattle on the Argenta allotment. Last year, the Bureau of Land Management told livestock operators that cattle would not be allowed on the mountain due to drought. That decision sparked protests, including an Elko-to-Carson City horse ride spearheaded by the late Elko County Commissioner Grant Gerber. The BLM and ranchers then agreed to allow conditional grazing. After certain “drought triggers” were met, the agency closed nine of 20 areas in the allotment. Because of a lack of fencing, permittees worried that cows would wander into closed areas, however. n September, riders saddled up again for the Grass March/Cowboy Express, which carried petitions from California to the U.S. Congress. The dispute ended up before the Interior Board of Land Appeals, but all parties involved agreed to mediation, which began last week. A BLM spokesman said mediation is still ongoing...more