USDA Grazing Rule Proposal Hits the Federal Register: 30-Day Comment Period, Five-Year Permits Proposed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on November 10 that its proposed rule updating grazing management on national forests and grasslands would be published in the Federal Register on November 12, opening a 30-day public comment period. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum jointly announced the proposal.
The proposed rule updates grazing permit issuance, permittee eligibility and qualifications, and grazing fee provisions for national forest and grassland lands across 16 contiguous Western states. It is the first substantive revision of the rules since 1977.
Under the proposal, grazing permit terms would be extended, up to five years, to reduce repeated application burdens on ranchers. The rule also aims to add management flexibility in drought and wildfire conditions and to address the reallocation of vacant allotments.
USDA said the Forest Service converted 25 vacant allotments to active status in 2026 and issued 32 new grazing permits, with a goal of adding 500,000 animal unit months of grazing capacity by the end of 2028; 165 vacant allotments are to be posted for applications beginning in November.
USDA said the revision is meant to give ranching operations more stable access to public lands while maintaining rangeland health and multiple-use requirements. Comments may be submitted through the channels listed in the Federal Register notice during the comment period.
(Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 美国农业部总部大楼（GSM固定图库） / U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters (GSM asset library)
