By CURTIS MARTIN

For Capital Press

The protection of Oregon's heritage could be one of the best descriptions of those who work in the livestock industry. Day after day, ranchers work on the land, raising their animals to produce a quality product. Preserving the land is part of that work, as the land is their livelihood.

Conservation, sustainability and protection of the land and the wildlife that count on it for food and water have been constant values for Oregon ranchers. We know the preservation of this land and the many natural resources it provides will help to sustain our work in the beef industry.

Oregon's agricultural sector is the second largest economic contributor to the state economy. The beef industry is a significant part of that sector, which means our contribution to the state's economic growth and Oregon's comeback from the recent economic downturn is also on the minds of cattle ranchers.

The livestock industry and ranchers face serious challenges in managing their business and investment with the very real and documented threat of predators, including the Canadian gray wolf.

Recently, several groups with a variety of interests have called into question the work of ranchers to protect their land and their animals and brought forward different proposals to address those issues.

For a real conversation to occur between differing opinions, we want to state clearly that the Oregon Cattlemen's Association is committed to finding solutions that are based on scientific data and research and make sense for the local communities and residents involved.

Since the reintroduction of the Canadian gray wolf in the U.S., millions of dollars have been spent to define management practices at the state and local levels. Yet we have not realized solutions that can provide responsible, professional, science-based management of the wolf population. The population of wolves overall has risen far beyond the levels that were planned for -- and the lack of locally based management plans has caused conflict and unnecessary spending of landowner, state and federal dollars -- all over the United States.

Oregon Wild has publicly contacted the Oregon Cattlemen's Association to sit down and discuss its suggestions on how the livestock industry should conduct its business. The OCA is always willing to engage in a constructive and fair conversation on topics of mutual interest, whether we agree or not. But we also must insist on seeing the data behind the ideas, assumptions and statements that are presented. We need to understand who makes up the coalition of groups promoting increases in the wolf population for Oregon. We want to understand their interests and intent in the issue.

It is important to the OCA that groups, stating they know what Oregonians prefer, what they support, and what they embrace, have the data behind these statements. We want to know they are working at the local level here in Oregon to learn what Oregonians want and need. Solutions that are best for Oregon's economy and environment need to be based in the experience and expertise of its communities.

We ask that the stakeholders referenced by Oregon Wild be sure they have taken a look at what ranchers are doing daily to manage predator wolves in nonlethal ways -- and the outcomes of those efforts.

Ranchers and the beef industry are proud of our commitment to conservation and sustainability. We have numerous documented examples of work at the local level to restore waterways and land for the benefit of livestock and wildlife. Rangeland provides a critical source of water and food for Oregon's abundant wildlife -- many of which are preyed upon by the same predators that attack cattle.

We are ready to find solutions to Oregon's strategy of wolf and predator management that meets the needs of the animals involved -- livestock and wildlife -- and of the people involved, those living in the local communities.

We seek to find answers to some of Oregon's critical issues that make sense for Oregonians. And those answers come from the people who call this state their home.

We look forward to engaging in that work with others who are invested in Oregon's success economically, environmentally and for the future of all who call Oregon home.

Curtis Martin is a cattle rancher and president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association.