In this episode, I interview Jimmy Tobias and Mark Olalde about their investigative series on public lands grazing featured in High Country News and ProPublica. They discuss their research methods, findings on political influence, economic implications, subsidies, and environmental impacts of grazing. Our conversation also covers billionaire and other high-profile ranchers such as large mining companies, as well as federal initiatives to boost the federal grazing program on public lands.
04:23 Guest Introductions
06:33 The Genesis of the Grazing Investigation
08:13 Economic and Political Influence in Public Lands Grazing
11:31 High-Profile Ranchers and Mining Companies
18:30 Federal Employees and Permit Violations
20:25 USDA’s Plan and the Reality of Public Lands Grazing
24:34 Food Security and Federal Public Lands Ranching
25:31 Land Health Assessments and Environmental Reviews
26:36 Perspectives on Grazing Permits and Flexibility
29:48 Economic and Political Influences on Public Lands Ranching
35:57 Field Observations and Ecological Impacts
https://www.propublica.org/article/grazing-environment-public-lands-oversight
https://www.propublica.org/article/grazing-environment-public-lands-oversight
https://www.propublica.org/article/grazing-ranchers-public-lands-trump
