As America’s farmers and ranchers respond to shifting environmental or market conditions, as well as ecological emergencies like drought and wildfire, a newly introduced bill from U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) would give them more flexibility to cultivate grazing on federal lands.
The Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act, H.R. 9062, which Rep. Curtis sponsored on July 18, would follow a federal 2018 pilot program that allowed grazing permittees to respond to changing conditions in several western states, according to a summary provided by the congressman’s staff.
“Utah’s ranchers face extraordinary roadblocks to carrying out their livelihood due to federal bureaucracy,” said Rep. Curtis. “In the West, wildfires, droughts, and other environmental conditions make ranchers think on their feet to protect their livestock and this legislation gives them that flexibility.”
If enacted, H.R. 9062 also would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to offer at least one alternative flexible grazing use at the request of a grazing permittee or lessee. Such alternatives would have to be developed in coordination with the affected state and federal agencies, relevant Indian tribes, and other impacted parties within the allotment, the summary says.
The BLM also would be required to create cooperative monitoring plans and rangeland health objectives to track and evaluate the program’s impact in consultation with the affected permittees.
“I am pleased that we have been able to work with our partners in the BLM to address an issue with grazing and can implement it on a national level,” Rep. Curtis said.
Additionally, H.R. 9062 would allow permittees and lessees to adjust pasture rotation dates up to 14 days prior to the agreed-upon start date, and after the agreed-upon end date to account for unforeseen ecological changes and other temporary conditions that may hinder land use, states the summary.
The measure, which has garnered support from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council, is the companion bill to the same-named S. 4454, introduced on June 4 by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).