The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) have come to a settlement regarding USFS shooting estray cattle from a helicopter in February.
Under the agreement, USFS will give 75 days notice before conducting any future helicopter shootings, and it will only be able to proceed if its plans are justified.
“The Forest Service has agreed it won’t be able to continue shooting cattle without first being accountable for complying with the law,” said Loren Patterson, NMCGA president, in a statement.
“New Mexico’s producers want to have a permanent seat at the table regarding such decisions; we believe this settlement is progress in the right direction.”
NCMGA and others filed suit against USFS after the agency shot 63 estray cattle in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico in February. USFS has also now withdrawn the memorandum it used to authorize the shootings.
