Public Lands Council

With the repeal of certain regulations, ranchers are breathing a little easier. What does this mean for the future of our rangelands?

In a move that could reshape ranching, officials are cutting through the red tape. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for the ranching community.

Last week, the University of Idaho in partnership with the Public Lands Council, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and others, released a 10-year study exploring the impact grazing livestock has on sage grouse populations. That study concluded grazing provided a host of benefits, including:    Increasing the biomass and diversity of insect species for food Reducing the risk of wildfire th

On Friday, the University of Idaho released the finalized results of its 10-year study looking into the impacts of grazing on greater sage grouse populations.  The study concluded that cattle grazing does not negatively impact greater sage grouse and can only benefit the species through building robust habitat, increasing forage, and reducing invasive grasses that lead to catastrophic 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 infrast

At the Public Lands Council’s annual meeting, the Bureau of Land Management announced the winners of the 2024 Rangeland Stewardship and Rangeland Innovation awards.  The two organizations have partnered for 19 years to honor BLM livestock grazing permittees and lessees who demonstrate exceptional management, collaboration, and communication that restores, conserves, or enhances public lands.   Th

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council announced strong support for the ESA Amendments Act of 2024. This legislation would reform the Endangered Species Act to provide more timely conservation efforts on America’s rangeland. “For...

A study from the USDA’s ARS confirmed the value of livestock grazing as a tool to protect western rangelands from wildfires.  The Public Lands Council, which represents ranchers who hold federal grazing permits, hailed the research as more proof of the important role livestock grazing plays in protecting our natural resources.   “In a ...

An amendment to prohibit funds from being used to finalize the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed “Landscape and Conservation Health” rule was adopted in the Interior and Environment Appropriations.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Farm Bureau, and other members of a coalition applauded an appeals court decision allowing intervention in a case regarding gray wolves.  The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will allow the coalition to intervene in the Defenders of Wildlife versus the U.S. Fish and Wil...