Barrasso bill would support ranchers, livestock grazing

CHEYENNE (WNE) — John Barrasso, R-Wyo., on Thursday introduced the Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health Act. This legislation would promote resilient and healthy rangelands and effective grazing management across the West, according to a news release from Barrasso’s office.

“Livestock grazing plays a critical role for Wyoming’s ranchers to maintain rangeland health and protect their livelihoods,” Barrasso said in the release. “All across America, we depend on our hardworking ranchers. The RANCH Act gives them the support they need to work through natural disasters and efficiently navigate permits and grazing rights. Our bill promotes robust rangeland for livestock, creates habitats for wildlife, and makes life easier for Wyoming’s ranching communities.”

Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis. R-Wyo.; Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; Jim Risch, R-Idaho; and Tim Sheehy, R-Mont.

If passed into law, the RANCH Act would

• Allow temporary use of vacant grazing allotments during extreme events/disasters
• Allocate funding for rangeland health and resiliency projects and public-access agreements to landlocked public lands for co-benefits to hunting and recreation
• Extend the period of grazing permits/ leases for up to 20 years, when certain conditions are met
• Provide responsive and nimble management through the use of a categorical exclusion for renewal of certain grazing permits/leases and for certain actions during extreme events/disasters.

This story was published on January 24, 2025.