Compendium of Budget Information for the 2012 General Session
| Natural Resources, Agriculture, & Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subcommittee Table of Contents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line Item: Predatory Animal Control Function The Predatory Animal Control program operates under guidance of the nine-member Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board. The Commissioner and the Director of the Division of Wildlife Resources serve as the board's chair and vice chair. This line item consists of just one program. This program is a cooperative effort between the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. The cooperative program is jointly financed, with the federal government paying about half of the cost. The objective of the program is to minimize livestock and wildlife losses to predators on private, state and federal land. This objective is met by using non-lethal and some lethal control methods. The program also assists in controlling urban wildlife such as raccoons and skunks. Every year Utah woolgrowers lose about 10% of their animals to predators. Cattle ranchers suffer losses to coyotes, mountain lions, bears, and other predators. Annual livestock losses to predators cost an estimated $3 million even with the program in place. Statutory Authority This program is governed by UCA 4-23, the Utah Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Act. Intent Language
Funding Detail The primary funding source is the General Fund (including General Fund transfers from the Division of Wildlife Resources), although some funding comes from the General Fund Restricted - Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Fund. Revenue to the restricted account comes from annual predator control fees (nicknamed a 'head tax') imposed on sheep, goats, cattle and turkeys that the program is designed to protect. Some of the revenue from sheep and fleece also goes to fund the Sheep Promotion program. UCA 4-23-9 requires the Department to request General Funds at least equal to 120 percent of the money collected from the 'head tax' during the previous fiscal year. The Legislature's base appropriation is approximately two times this statutory minimum.
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