Utah Valley Times

Yesterday, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act. The bill aims to provide ranchers with the flexibility to respond to circumstances impacting the land they rely on for livestock feeding. This follows a 2018 pilot program that allowed grazing permittees to adapt to shifting conditions in several western states.

“Utah’s ranchers face extraordinary roadblocks to carrying out their livelihood due to federal bureaucracy,” said Rep. Curtis. “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. 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."

The Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act will:

- Expand and codify the 2018 BLM Pilot Program that affords increased flexibility to approved grazing permittees as they respond to shifting environmental or market conditions and ecological emergencies like drought and wildfire.

- Require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to offer at least one alternative flexible grazing use at the request of the grazing permittee or lessee. Such alternatives must be developed in coordination with affected state and federal agencies, relevant Indian Tribes, and other impacted parties within the allotment.

- 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.

- Require the BLM to create cooperative monitoring plans and rangeland health objectives to track and evaluate the program’s impact in consultation with affected permittees.

“Livestock grazing is one of the best and most cost-effective methods to prevent catastrophic wildfires on federal lands, but so often permittees are constrained by overly-burdensome federal management plans that restrict adaptive management. This legislation ensures that federal lands ranchers are able to adapt their plans based on on-the-ground conditions and apply the best possible management to the landscape. This flexibility is crucial, especially in years like this one, where wildfire risk is high, and grazing will be a key factor in reducing fuel loads on rangeland. Thank you to Rep. John Curtis and the bipartisan coalition of lawmakers supporting this bill, making it easier for ranchers to do their jobs and protect our natural resources,” said Kaitlynn Glover, NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director.

Nearly 70% of Utah’s public lands are federally owned, making unadaptable permitting regulations particularly challenging for ranchers who depend on healthy accessible land. Outcome-Based Grazing Authorizations (OBGAs) have already proven successful in many Western states part of the 2018 BLM pilot program including Idaho, Colorado, and Nevada under various circumstances such as weather changes, forage production shifts, droughts, fires, and market fluctuations. This bipartisan legislation recognizes ranchers' role as stewards of federal land while aiding efforts towards productivity maximization alongside sustainability maintenance.

A Senate version was introduced by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) last month referred it was referredto Senate Committeeon Energyand Natural Resources.