About

The Merchant Livestock Company (MLSCO) is a family-owned and –run business near Eunice, NM. Operations began in 1897, and the ranch was officially incorporated in 1911. A member of the seventh generation is currently living on the ranch. We are a group of more than 20 family members—some located on the ranch, others as far away as the east coast—who are committed to preserving and protecting the family cattle ranching operations on the San Simon Ranch (SSR).

MISSION STATEMENT

 The MLSCO’s mission is to foster an environment that protects the more-than-century-long legacy of cattle operations on the SSR while creating sustainable pathways for oil and gas exploration and operations.

WE BELIEVE

  • The land contained within the boundaries of the SSR has been entrusted to our care to be stewarded in the best interests of the land and those who depend on it for their livelihood.
  • Relationships are the foundation of personal and professional success and progress. Cohesive relationships between landowners and operators are essential for both parties’ success.
  • Everyone who operates on the SSR is accountable for conducting environmentally responsible and sustainable practices on the land.

The Merchant Livestock Company is committed to conducting responsible agricultural practices to ensure the surface of the land is productive for generations to come. We are also committed to doing everything within our power to foster positive working relationships with all operators on the SSR. We firmly believe everyone involved in operations on the land—pumpers, surveyors, cowboys, landmen, and everyone in between—is deserving of respect and kindness.

WHAT WE DO

  • Stewardship: As landowners, our focus is on being good stewards of the surface (including vegetation/pastureland and groundwater), so that wildlife and livestock are sustained through the natural growth of pastureland.
    • Ranching:
      • Natural cattle breeding (no artificial insemination)
      • Pasture rotation to avoid over-grazing
      • Routine equipment maintenance and seasonal spraying to prevent noxious weeds
      • Windmill maintenance
      • Fence maintenance
    • Oil & Gas:
      • Keeping surface disturbance to a minimum.
      • Remediation and restoration practices
      • Required washing of equipment coming onto ranch to prevent noxious weeds
      • Right-of-way (ROW) enforcement to minimize damages and to help keep State of New Mexico grazing lessee (MLSCO) and operators out of trespass on State lands.
  • Relationships: We want to foster a mutually beneficial relationship with operators, built on honesty and respect, for each other and for the land. Operators and/or their agents are always invited to the ranch to shake hands with and discuss operations and ongoing negotiations. Our table is always open. We have enjoyed countless face-to-face conversations with more than a dozen oil and gas operators throughout the Permian Basin.
  • Accountability:
    • Report spills/trespass/illegal dumping to New Mexico State Land Office
    • EnforceSUA/ROW/Agreement terms
  • Disturbance Fees
    • Income from oil and gas allows us to not only support our families and our business, it also allows us to support our community and local economy.
    • We want our ranch disturbance fees to be in-line with our values.
      • We view well pads, batteries, roads, etc., as ground no longer able to be agriculturally productive—as ground we’re renting to an operator, like an apartment or office space. Instead of charging lump sums like many landowners in the Permian Basin, we charge a lesser up-front fee for the potential of a small annual income that will be here for generations to come.

GOALS

  • Reduction of physical waste and trash on ranch lands
  • Protect life-sustaining groundwater
  • Protect livestock
  • Protect wildlife
  • Find a remedy for Love Grass, an invasive grass species, introduced to the ranch by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Love Grass has next to no nutritional value for livestock, and smothers native, nutrient-rich grass.
  • Continued efforts toward building mutually beneficial relationships with any and all willing operators
  • Betterment of the local community:
    • Help foster a cohesive partnership between Permian Basin landowners and operators
    • Donate to/partner on sustainable ranching research.
    • Promote community advancement through varied contributions to the wellbeing of Lea County citizens.