Much has been happening with the Proposed Kansas Nebraska National Heritage Area Partnership. Meetings from April 7 through April 15th were attended by more than expected crowds. One crowd was over 500 people! Amazing how concerned the people are about something that was being slipped in behind our backs. Then the 30×30 Executive order 14008 was thrown out to be pushed and people started asking questions there. Private Property Rights are very much a concern for land owners and they should be. We work hard for what we have and if someone is going to slip in ways to regulate or eventually control the land, then we are just in our push back with resolutions.
As I shared information and watched the meetings on live stream, I heard questions about what organizations were saying or doing to protect their members. It was concerning to say that the Kansas Livestock Association was fairly quiet. I attended senate hearings with the KLA last year, when they along with the Kansas Dairy Association were pushing to outlaw the sales of raw milk, in effect, cannibalizing part of their own industry by outlawing those who produce a raw product for the people. In their hearings last year, they made claims that raw milk was too dangerous for people to consume, yet the data that we provided from the CDC proved otherwise. So, when information came to me about the KLA having a non-profit organization the purchased Conservation Easements, I had to do some checking on things myself. Sure enough, Ranchlandtrustofkansas.org (RTK) is a non-profit that sets up conservation easements. So now I have more questions than answers. You should have questions as well.
- Why is KLA using RTK to purchase easements?
- Where is KLA getting money to purchase these easements?
- What are the unintended consequences of these easements?
I could go on and on with loads of questions but this last one may be the kicker; “Isn’t this a betrayal of the KLA to their members? You make the decision. Check these links out and make your own decisions.
You do your own research and make decisions. If you like me, have more questions then keep asking of those in the know.
Educated Cowpuncher 