The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation welcomed two actions from the Department of the Interior announced on May 14, including proposed updates to Bureau of Land Management grazing regulations and plans to rescind the Conservation and Landscape Health rule finalized in 2024.
The topic is significant for ranchers and public land users, as it addresses how federal lands are managed and used for grazing, recreation, energy, wildlife, and other activities.
Kerin Clark, Executive Vice President of WyFB, said both actions represent a return to Congress’ original focus on multiple-use and sustained yield principles for managing federal lands. “We applaud the actions by the Department of Interior to return the Bureau of Land Management’s grazing program regulations to Congress’ intent of multiple-use and sustained yield of the resources,” Clark said. “Grazing is an important component of multiple-use and management of public lands.”
Clark explained that DOI’s proposed changes would provide more flexibility for permittees working with BLM staff. “As we’ve seen with the weather so far this year, mother nature doesn’t strictly follow the calendar,” Clark stated. “Flexibility for permittees to work with BLM staff to determine when to graze, regardless of the calendar, is ensuring proper stewardship of the federal land resources.” She added that recognizing factors beyond livestock grazing alone—such as recreation or wildlife—affect rangeland health: “We welcome the rules noting that rangeland health should address all factors related to the resource… For decades, grazing permittees have carried the burden without consideration for impacts of non-grazing factors including recreation, energy, feral horses and wildlife uses.”
Clark also highlighted support for updating regulations in line with congressional intent: “Returning the grazing regulations back to original congressional intent will benefit the land as a whole,” she said. “Ranchers are stewards of the land and resources they utilize to raise livestock and contribute to nation’s food supply.”
Regarding rescinding Conservation and Landscape Health rule finalized in 2024—which WyFB opposed—Clark said: “We are pleased with Bureau of Land Management’s announcement today… Our organization requested a withdrawal when it was issued in May 2024 seeing it as detrimental… WyFB along with Natrona County Farm & Ranch Bureau joined a lawsuit seeking overturn.” She further commented: “This rule would have made ‘non-use,’ also described as conservation… contradiction [to] multiple-use mandate given by Congress through FLPMA… Multiple-use management provides for public lands be utilized.”
“Grazing permittees contribute to overall stewardship through stimulating plant growth supporting wildlife fire mitigation improving health rangelands,” Clark concluded.
