Dems Offer Grazing Help

In Congress, key Democratic senators are supporting NCBA and Public Lands Council efforts to find a permanent remedy for the renewal of grazing permits on public lands.

 In a letter to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Committee Ranking Member Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), a trio of Senate Democrats asked the committee to make this a “top priority,” and urged Congress to “ensure that public lands ranchers are not unfairly penalized when an agency fails to complete its reviews prior to the expiration of grazing permits.”  The letter was signed by Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).  

“We’re so appreciative of the bi-partisan support members of Congress have shown us,” says Jeff Eisenberg, Public Lands Council executive director and NCBA director of federal lands.  “We’re having positive discussions with Sen. Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) office as well on this important subject, and we’re hopeful these members of Congress can persuade others to see what’s at stake here.”

What’s at stake is the livelihood of Western ranchers who rely on federal lands to graze cattle.  “Grazing on public lands has been a part of the economic and cultural backbone of the West for more than a hundred years,” the letter says. 

“Just like any other American small business owner, these ranchers are just trying to do their jobs — and that relies on their ability to graze their cattle on these lands,” explains Eisenberg.  “If we can’t find a way to resolve the permit renewal process, the resulting uncertainty could force Western ranchers off the land and potentially out of business.”