Alternate grazing lands eyed for Tinian cattlemen

Marine Forces Pacific executive director Craig B. Whelden said they are currently working with the Tinian Cattlemen’s Association to find a new grazing site for their cattle and help the association retain its plans to expand beef production.

Earlier in February, MarForPac and the CNMI government signed a lease back agreement that will allow the island’s ranchers the use of military lands until July 2016 following completion of the CNMI Commonwealth Joint Military Training Plan record of decision.

Whelden said a record of decision doesn’t mean it is a decision to act; rather, it is a decision on what you want to do as an agency.

“Because the next step that occurs is that we then have to turn to our host, the CNMI, and say we need additional land or we don’t need additional land and negotiate that in a period of time until we settle on exactly how we’re going to execute this plan that we have been studying for three years,” he said.

“We’ve been working our way through that with the Cattlemen’s Association to ensure that we can provide 365-day access to land that is in the military leaseback for grazing. What we strive to do is at least find one-for-one replacement of what they currently have and that is what we’re trying to do,” Whelden said.

“Truth is, we’re only there 20 weeks a year, which means 32 weeks a year there is nobody there except those taking care of the facilities. When we’re there we will probably have an arrangement where the cattle could graze in the area but there is a little bit of a risk because of stray rounds and so forth. But we will not put them in a direct line of fire where Marines are actually shooting so it is a slight risk,” he added.

According to Tinian Cattlemen’s Association secretary Lawerence Duponcheel, they continue to advocate for all farmers and ranchers on the island, especially in light of the proposed firing range complex that will be developed on the military leased lands on Tinian.

Approximately 90 percent of Tinian’s farms and ranches are currently located on military leased lands. The development of these farms over the last 40 years represents local interest and investments in the island’s agricultural sector.

Duponcheel said the U.S. Department of Defense, MarForPac, Joint Region Marianas, Office of the Governor, Department of Public Lands, Tinian Mayor’s Office, Tinian Legislative Delegation, and the Tinian Cattlemen’s Association all support the continuation of the farmers’ grazing activities.

Since the new lease agreement for Tinian’s military leased lands allows for the extension of grazing permits up to July next year, the beef initiative is still a go, Duponcheel added.

MarForPac supported the extension of grazing permits to allow the ranchers to continue to avail of U.S Department of Agriculture conservation funds. It also allowed DPL to process grazing permits up until July 2016 and for ranchers to pay for their permits.

Duponcheel noted that MarForPac representatives will be on Tinian on April 10, 2015, to consider the unveiling of the CNMI-CJMT EIS for the development of the range complex, which will identify impacts and mitigation strategies of the proposed developments.

“Director Whelden has put together a great team of professionals who have gone out of their way to develop a plan that will allow Tinian farmers to continue producing beef and other products that ultimately provide food security for civilian and military personnel alike,” he said.

“Food availability and production is an important component of any military mission, and MarForPac is set to deliver a plan that truly develop the island’s military capacity by incorporating food production into the overall plan. This is consistent with what the DoD has done in other locations across the globe by allowing farms to exist within the borders of U.S. military bases. MarForPac has been a great partner in this respect. They are very mindful of the importance of our ranches to the people and to the future of military operations in the Marianas,” he added.