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Title: One Rancher's Dilemma

Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/tx-one-rancher-s-dilemma|tx-one-rancher-s-dilemma]]

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Created: 2021-05-07 18:45:35

Updated: 2022-09-16 00:30:25

Published: 2021-05-10 03:00:00

Converted: 2025-04-14T21:11:11.932619270


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If you think government overreach only happens in Washington or big cities, think again. Allow me to share this true story.\\
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On May 3, 2021, a rancher in Wise County, Texas was contacted by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (“TSSWCB”) with respect to a March 31, 2021, complaint to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) from one of the rancher’s neighbors about the “smell of cow manure in the air.” The complainant (the rancher’s neighbor) lives in Wise County part-time, a few weekends a month.\\
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TSSWCB visited the rancher’s property and determined seven (7) horses were in the stripping area of the arena which was without established vegetation and uncontrolled nutrient-rich runoff. This area is the rancher’s roping arena and catch pens adjacent to the complainant’s fence line and pasture, approximately 250 yards from the complainant’s house. The rancher uses the 160’ x 40’ catch pens to wean his colts. The rancher saw to it the pen’s hay feeder was filled and fresh water made available daily.\\
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TSSWCB went on to state their findings that “there was a hint of cow manure in the air if the wind was just right, making it an animal feeding operation without a permit and in violation of Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 1, Chapter 321, Subchapter B, Rule #321.32” (Whew, that’s a long one.) The rancher denied there was a violation, explained this is Texas where cows and horses live in the open range, and felt his civil liberties were being violated.\\
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Naturally, TSSWCB didn’t see it that way. They stated, “if actions are not taken by the rancher to bring his operation in compliance within 45 days from receipt of their letter, the matter would be returned to TCEQ for further action.” TSSWCB then stated Texas State law would “require the rancher to develop a Water Quality Management Plan (“WQMP”) to address resource concerns and bring his animal feeding operation into compliance. In order to comply, you’ll need to re-establish vegetation, roof the non-vegetated area or capture nutrient-rich runoff from the pen area.”\\
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My first reaction to this story is, who pays for this WQMP? Well, the rancher, of course, at considerable time and expense to himself. At last word, this rancher is now looking for a lawyer.\\
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This incident is troubling on several levels. It not only reeks of government overreach, but also points directly to the problems of cancel culture in our society. If a “neighbor” doesn’t like something we say or where or how we live, they just get the government involved to fix the problem. We no longer try to solve conflicts amongst ourselves, but instead rely on litigation to solve our “perceived” problems in life.\\
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The handwriting is on the wall, folks. Liberal overreach and our societal cancel culture is definitely infiltrating our lives. Let’s put a stop to this insanity. Now is the time for We the People to stand up and take our country back. Fortunately, there is a solution—Convention of States!