Sheep Collar Conflict Resolution
ESPRI contracted with an outside facilitator who conducted two meetings. In the end, the Woolgrowers agreed to consider further information on the use of the collars on a voluntary basis.
The Forest Service has piloted the use GPS collars on sheep to monitor band movements on the national forest. Unfortunately some of the data from one of the original pilots was utilized by anti-grazing interests against a rancher. While the data did instigate the suit or determine the outcome, it's utilization by anti-grazing interests has soured the woolgrowing industry on the use of the collars. The Forest Service would like woolgrowers to expand the use of collars. ESPRI is to negotiate a path forward to address the needs of all parties identified. The first step may likely be an evaluation of the effectiveness and economics of the pilot studies done to date.
This page last reviewed May 2006