NCBA Members Support Livestock Grazing to Prevent Wildfires

Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council recently testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands.  Their testimony supported legislation to expand the use of livestock grazing as a tool to reduce wildfire risk, make grazing permits more responsive to range conditions, and remove regulatory barriers to maintaining critical infrastructure.

Each bill, they noted, will work together to protect the beautiful landscapes across the West and support the ranchers who drive the economic success of rural communities.

“I see a clear need for the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Act,” said NCBA member and Utah cattleman Jeff Young. “Resource management shouldn’t be static; it should be responsive and collaborative.” 

He also said the bill represents an updated, modernized way to manage that land, understanding that you need flexibility to make things work from year to year.  Targeted grazing can remove up to 1,000 pounds of wildfire fuel per acre.

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