Page 28 - Flathead Beacon // 7.29.15

LIKE I WAS SAYING 30 AMERICAN RURAL 30 DRAWING BOARD 31 Viewpoints
LETTERS
A Better Disincentive to Would-be Terrorists
U.S. Marine recruiters have been directed not to wear uniforms in public in response to the shootings in Chatta- nooga. It reminds me of policies insti- tuted in the mid-80s, which instructed Marines on liberty to have “business- man’s haircuts and sideburns” during my deployment in the Mediterranean. Years later as a captain for a major air- line, we had a policy in certain coun- tries that required us to change into civilian clothing prior to leaving the aircraft.
In each case, the policy was intended to protect the individuals. Make no mistake, Marines are offended by this policy. We don’t cower in fear and we certainly do not wish to hide our iden- tity from potential enemies. If higher command wants to protect our Marine recruiters, then they need to look no further than the Marine’s service weapon.
What better disincentive to would-be terrorists than to know that their intended targets are highly skilled, combat hardened, ARMED Devil Dogs? We may not be able to prevent ideologically motivated crim- inals, but we certainly can allow those few, proud Marines who constantly exemplify courage, honor, commit- ment as well as the highest traditions of American valor to keep on their persons the weapons we trained them with.
Lt. Col. Robert Welzel Kalispell
Wildfire Policy Based on Flawed Assumptions
As Montana braces for another wildfire season, it is worth noting that most of the wildfire polices being implemented by federal and state agen- cies degrade forest ecosystems, are costly to taxpayers and ultimately fail to do what proponents assert – namely prevent or control large wildfires.
First problem is that most agencies view large fires as destructive, yet large wildfires are the major means of forest renewal. Indeed, forest ecosystems are adapted to and require large severely burned stands. Many plant and animal species are adapted to severely burnt forests and live in mortal fear of fire suppression. In essence green forests are a threat to their existence.
These severely burned patches have some of the greatest biodiversity rival- ing old growth forests.
Plus large wildfires provide many other ecosystem benefits including recycling nutrients, storage of carbon, and the natural thinning of forests.
In short, a healthy forest ecosystem is one which has periodic large severe burns.
Large fires occur when conditions for fire ignition and fire-spread are high, not because of fuels. These con- ditions include high temperatures, low humidity and most importantly high winds. High winds drive fires across the landscape by spotting.
Yet the target of agency fuel reduc- tions are the large fires – exactly the blazes we cannot stop or control by fuel reductions. Fires burning under less than severe conditions are seldom a threat to homes or communities.
Wind-driven blazes leap-frog over fuel reduction projects – assuming they are even in the path of a fire in the first place. We see this all over the West where large fires have jumped firebreaks, clear-cuts, highways, rivers, and fuel reductions. Under extreme conditions, there is no stop- ping wildfires.
Contrary to the common assump- tions, dead trees from beetle-kill or disease do not increase fire hazard. Fires spread by the burning of fine fuels like needles, small branches and the like. Once these fine fuels drop from a tree, it is difficult to ignite – as the numerous snags left after a wild- fire attests.
Indeed, green trees – under extreme drought conditions – often burn better than dead trees due to the abundance of fine fuels (needles) and flammable resins in the needles and branches.
Finally homes burn due to poor zon- ing (allowing construction in the fire- prone landscapes) and home flamma- bility. The best way to make commu- nities safe is to reduce fire risk in the home ignition zone which is no more than 200 feet from a structure.
Fuel reductions any further away have no effect on home safety. The numerous fuel reductions projects being implemented by federal and state agencies around the West will do little to make communities safer from wildfires. They just waste tax dollars, harm forest ecosystems, and give a false sense of security to homeowners.
George Wuerthner Helena
Hay Availability Disaster
Our low snowpack, early melt off, lack of spring rainfall (25 percent of normal), continuing unusual heat, dry- ing winds, and extreme low humidity
in Northwest Montana (west of the continental divide and north of the I-90 corridor), has impacted the avail- ability of life-sustaining hay. Drought causes a viscous cycle where both the rancher and consumer lose, but ulti- mately the animals.
Montana has been designated a Nat- ural Disaster area due to the current extreme drought conditions. The state program to help with financial recov- ery will now go in to effect, opening up emergency assistance for livestock, honey bee, farm-raised fish ranchers and farmers. Simply put, we do not qualify. We are not producers, we are consumers.
The dry farmer and yes even irriga- tion has been affected by the extreme decrease in our water supply. Our grain supply has not only been affected locally, but due to the unusual storms and flooding in the Midwest, agricul- ture products that we utilize from there are also at extreme risk.
Farmers/ranchers are turning to barley hay, or even making hay from their wheat crops in desperation. As a consumer, there is no real way to tell if their decision to do so was made early- enough.The beards (awns) on bearded wheat can cause oral problems in live- stock if the heads are fully developed and mature causing sore, even bloody mouths.
This is the bottom line for us: last year we paid between $126-$160 per ton. This year we are $200-$250 per ton. We use about 83-93 T large bales & about 61 T small squares. You do the math. None of our regular suppliers have hay to sell, much less donate. In our hunt for hay, those honest farmers have no supply; those that remain are price gouging. We finally found an hon- est hay broker that is shipping in grass hay from the Bozeman and Billings areas, south of the I-90 corridor, where they received slightly better rainfall.
We are at risk of not being able to pay for the hay we need to feed the crit- ters already under our care. We do not receive any government grants, relief or subsidies. What we have available comes strictly from individual and a few small corporate donations. I have already received more than 50 calls from people looking for, and not find- ing, hay for their animals. I have seen the extreme increase of ads from peo- ple trying to sell or give away their live- stock. Next, they will be reaching out to us to take them and we will not be able to feed more, unless more contri- butions come in quickly.
Kate Borton, All Mosta Ranch Montana Marion
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JULY 29, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
LETTERS
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