How is a capitalist rancher on private property supposed to compete with that? Especially when they get those leases for nearly nothing and get to "count" their own cattle when they settle the grazing fees. When they fill the salebarns with cattle, they knock the heck out of the price of beef, and we had to pay several times what they did for pasture if we lease it. Most of you would be flabbergasted as to the size of the wild herds that could be sustained in the high country if the cattle hadn't of grazed it all off.
Once again Brad, you come through with a truth--most of the larger "ranches" in the Rocky Mountains today are owned by the wealthy who want to play cowboy--and they take advantage of the taxpayer as much or more than the former ranch owners who were just trying to make a living off the land.
Casey
