1. Welcome, Introductions, Minutes - Howard Johnson welcomed everyone to the meeting and we went around the table introducing ourselves. Roger Banner read the minutes of the November 23, 1999 meeting. Al Dustin made a motion to accept them as read and Larry Ellicott seconded. The motion passed.

Dennis Neffendorf has replaced Gary Westmoreland as National GLCI Coordinator. His address and phone numbers are:

Dennis W. Neffendorf (651) 602-7867
State Resource Conservationist (651) 602-7914-FAX
600 F.C.S. Bldg. dwn@mn.nrcs.usda.gov
375 Jackson St.
St. Paul, MN 55101-1854

John Fairchild requested that we review the seed warehousing issues discussed by Orson Boyce and Bill Hopkin and reported in the November minutes based on seed facility issues that UDWR is facing. The group agreed.

2. Report on funding from State Legislature - Howard Johnson reported that we have been funded at to $90,000, available July 1, 2000 (FY 2001 budget). The money will be non-lapsing. Jim Gowan sponsored the bill with support from Brad Johnson, Eli Anderson, and Rep. Stiler. In addition, Commissioner Cary Peterson reported on $75,000 funding for biological weed control and $130,000 for assistance on hoppers. Commissioner Peterson indicated that Renee Matsuura, financial officer at the UDA&F, could help us with the administration of the account.

3. Report on Incorporation as a 501C - Bonnie Young reported that the application is being reviewed at present by IRS. As far as the state and IRS are concerned, we can start acting as a non-profit corporation. Final copies of the paperwork will be made available soon.

Jake Jacobson indicated that there is an association of non-profit organizations that can give us some help as we get started. Lauri Canon-Alder is the contact. Larry Ellicott made a motion to seek this help and Bonnie seconded it. The motion passed.

4. National GLCI - Tim Munns
a. Conference will be in Las Vegas, December 5-8, 2000 at Bally's
- The planners want producer papers and posters. Tim suggested that Darryl Johnson and Bill Hopkin might consider doing posters or papers. Bob Newhall might be willing to do a poster on the CRP Maintenance project.
- The committee decided that we should send letters to demo producers about the conference and posters.

b. Nation Steering Committee Meeting is scheduled for Washington, D.D. on March 26, 2000. Tim will have the S&WCS alternate attend and he will attend the NCBA meeting in Washington the next week and rep for GLCI.

c. Requests from National GLCI - The state GLCI coalitions are requested to send a report as directed in the last GLCI newsletter:

- Study, list, and prioritize grazing land management needs and objectives for the state.
- Meet with our state conservationist, state soil and water conservation board, and state association of conservation districts board to determine their current activities relating to grazing lands. Discuss GLCI priorities and objectives in your state. Encourage actions to address the needs and accomplish the objectives.
- Meet with state research and extension directors to determine their current activities relating to grazing lands. Discuss GLCI priorities and objectives in your state. Encourage actions to address the needs and accomplish the objectives.
- Request from the state conservationist a complete and accurate accounting of the specific uses and related dollar amounts of GLCI funding allocated to your state each year.
- Work with state research and extension directors to plan, coordinate, and implement efforts to increase awareness, support, and funding from state legislatures for grazing lands research and extension activities in your state. Priorities can be directly related to efforts for environmental protection and management.
- Report back to the GLCI National Steering Committee about successes that can be used as examples by others or lack of progress that needs national attention or support to change.

Jake made a motion to report back to the National Steering Committee and Tim seconded it. The motion passed. Jake, Larry, and Roger were asked to put together a report for the National GLCI Steering Committee.

Chuck Gay made a motion that we reimburse Tim for his travel expenses to the National Steering Committee Meetings and Larry seconded it. The motion passed.

Tim made a motion that we cover expenses for producers on the Utah GLCI Steering Committee attending or presenting at the Grazing Lands Conference. Al seconded the motion and it passed.

Accelerated Forest Plan Revision
Tim and Cary reported on Wasatch-Cache NF Plan, Uintah NF Plan revisions and expressed concern over the priority use approach that FS is using. Also they related that public meetings will be held on Wild or Scenic River designation for the Logan River as part of the plan revision. Melissa Blackwell is coordinating the public involvement effort for the FS. Her phone number is 801-524-3908.

Tim asked if anyone knows if Farm Bill listening sessions have been scheduled. No one knows, but Sec. Glickman will address NFU Convention in SLC next week and may have information. There are some points to make in any public meetings on the Farm Bill:
- Producers are conservation-minded if they have opportunity to do conservation.
- Low farm income limits producers ability/opportunity to employ conservation practices.
- Producer incentives are needed since society receives the benefits and producers are asked to employ conservation measures.
- One-size fits all doesn't work, regional differences need to be addressed.

5. Wes Peterson - Howard Johnson reported that Wes had a heart attack and passed away. Many people expressed their appreciation for Wes' friendship and commitment to conservation. Group agreed to send a card with a $50 donation to the charity of their choice. Ask Gordon to send check.

6. Working Together - Skip Nelson
Skip stressed that communication is important. He gave a brief background on GLCI in Utah. Earmarked funds were $350,000 and 01 funds amounted to $700,000. He discussed options (2) in administering the EQIP program and asked for a recommendation on EQIP from the Utah GLCI. He related that the EQIP has many plans that have been developed but due to limited amount of funding available, many plans have not been implemented. The two options he identified are:
a. Eliminate Statewide Initiative - moves to Geographic Priority Areas (GPA).
Easier to show a positive effect on water quality/quantity on a watershed basis
b. Keep initiative but use existing plans or allow applicants to provide their own plan.
Producers need information on program sources of cost-share funding for projects on the land.
Advantages
Option GPA - Geographic Priority Areas offer concentrated activity, shows benefits more readily.
Option Statewide - more acres improved by having a statewide program. Statewide program is more politically acceptable because it is viewed as more equitable.

Bonnie and Tim suggested that we need a concise statement of the options with advantages and disadvantages of each. We need to see the GPA Criteria and Statewide Grazing Lands Criteria.

Larry Ellicott reminded everyone of the purpose of EQIP vs the old cost share programs. EQIP was not designed to be a replacement for the earlier programs. The focus is on Environmental Benefits not equity among landowners in use of the funds.

We have until July 1 to come up with a recommendation.

Tim Munns made a motion that we develop information for producers on sources of Cost Share assistance with soil and water conservation practices. Al Dustin seconded the motion and it passed. Jake Jacobson, Larry Ellicott, John Fairchild, Chuck Gay, and Mark Farmer were appointed to a committee to pull the information together.

7. Tours for Next Summer - Jake asked what we want to do in the way of sponsoring tours. Roger suggested that we should promote local tours through local Extension Agents, UACD Zone Coordinators, and NRCS technical people.

We also want to sponsor a state tour. Darrell Johnson's place was brought up as an ideal location to visit on a tour. Cary Peterson also suggested that we could hold our meeting in the field when weather gets nice.

8. Bonnie on Outside Funding and new projects. Bonnie talked about the Department of Commerce RFP and the shot time before the deadline. The group thought it would be difficult to meet the deadline but that we should prepare one for the next round.

9. Other - Roger mentioned that Howard was asked to write a short response to the question, "Should livestock graze on public lands?" by the assistant editor of Sierra (magazine published by the Sierra Club). The short essay appears in the "Last Words" column on page 92 of the March/April 2000 issue. Roger will try to get some copies and permission to reproduce the column on our web page or elsewhere.

10. Meeting Schedule - NOTICE: we will meet again March 30, @ 0930 @ UFBF. We have much planning to do in preparation for budgeting the $90,000 from the Utah Legislature.

We will plan to meet the 4th Thursday of every other month beginning with a meeting on April 27 @ 0930 @ UFBF. Subsequent meetings will be held on June 22, August 24, and October 27 unless otherwise agreed and noted.