Central Wyoming News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), member of ENR and chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, introduced the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act to support ranchers who rely upon federal lands for grazing livestock.

The legislation aims to improve grazing management on federal lands by granting livestock operators increased flexibility to adapt to changing conditions such as drought or wildfires. This initiative seeks to enhance the economic viability of ranching operations while promoting rangeland and wildlife habitat health.

“Grazing is an integral part of keeping Wyoming’s rangelands healthy. Ranchers need more flexibility to adapt and respond to on-the-ground threats like drought and wildfires,” said Senator Barrasso. “This will both support our ranching communities and encourage better management of our federal lands. Our bill gives ranchers the tools they need to best manage the grazing activities of their livestock. I’m pleased to be working with Senator Wyden to advance this critical reform.”

Senator Wyden remarked, "After embracing the Bureau of Land Management pilot program, ranchers in eastern Oregon worked closely with me to include updated operational flexibility in my community-crafted Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act.” He added, “Today I’m pleased to work with Senator Barrasso to build on the work of Oregon ranchers... These authorities will recognize the ranchers who choose to use them as active participants in improving the ecological health of our public lands.”

The Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act includes several key provisions:

- Expanding a national grazing program at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that allows approved grazing permittees more flexibility in managing federal rangelands.

- Requiring BLM to develop flexible grazing use alternatives at the request of permittees or lessees, in consultation with affected agencies, Native American Tribes, and other parties within allotments.

- Providing adjustable pasture rotation dates up to 14 days before and after specified timeframes in response to weather changes, forage production, fire, drought, market conditions, or other temporary factors.

- Mandating BLM establish cooperative monitoring plans and rangeland health objectives in coordination with permittees.

Click here to read the bill text.