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Cattle Grazing Legislation Aims To Change How Allotments Are Managed

cattle in field
nrcs.usda.gov
Grazing levels on federally owned public lands in the West have been in decline over the last 50 years.

Utah’s junior Congressman Chris Stewart and senior Senator Orrin Hatch have introduced legislation that could transform the way some cattle grazing allotments are managed, giving more autonomy to states.

The pilot program would allow states to enter into 20-year cooperative agreements with the Secretary of the Interior, granting them the ability to manage up to two federal grazing allotments or more.

Grazing levels on federally owned public lands in the West have been in decline over the last 50 years, and are now at the lowest levels ever seen.

“Both my wife and I grew up on farms and ranches and having grown up working cattle, I understand the importance of grazing rights,” Stewart said. “Grazing is critical to communities all over rural Utah and I believe our communities have the expertise and the passion to best manage their own grazing lands. I want you to know I’m doing all I can in congress to protect Utah’s grazing rights, including pushing for this state grazing pilot program.”

Steward said, if implemented, the state-run programs could demonstrate that states are fully capable of responsible land management. The Utah Department of Agriculture has voiced support for the bill.

Chris Holmes holds a Masters of Professional Communication degree from Southern Utah University. While at SUU his work received numerous awards including the 2009 King Foundation Best of Festival Award in the National Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts. Chris is co-host of the daily public affairs program, Big Picture Morning Show on radio station KSUB (Cedar City, Utah). He also is a sports and news contributor at Cherry Creek Media. He lives in Cedar City, with wife, Marie and five children.