Governor Greg Gianforte, along with members of Montana’s federal delegation, recently sent a letter to Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum detailing the state’s longstanding efforts to petition the federal government to follow the laws governing grazing permits.
Nationally, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages livestock grazing on 155 million acres of public lands. The terms and conditions for grazing on BLM-managed lands are set forth in the permits and leases that are issued to ranchers.
Since 2017, American Prairie Reserve (APR) has sought BLM’s approval to change livestock grazing permits in Montana into permits to graze their non-production, conservation bison herd. Under the Biden Administration, BLM issued a decision to grant the requested permits on a number of BLM grazing allotments in eastern Montana.
In 2022, the State of Montana, grazing districts, and livestock industry groups all appealed BLM’s decision, noting that the land would no longer be able to be used for production agriculture if the permits are approved. In the letter, the governor and Montana’s federal delegation highlighted they are awaiting the Department of Interior’s decision on those appeals and underscore their support for Montana’s farmers and ranchers who make up the state’s number one industry.
“APR is dedicated to ‘re-wilded,’ free-roaming bison and converting Montana’s historic farms and ranches into the largest wildlife refuge in the continental United States. For us, a decision in favor of APR will re-shape the entire landscape of our state,” the officials wrote. “The effect of this change would remove immense swaths of land from production agriculture with far reaching implications and undermine the proud heritage of these small, agriculture-focused communities.”
They continue, “It also threatens the economic vitality of our most important industry, decreasing agricultural production revenue and directly impacting industries downstream that shape our overall economy. Once the damage is done, and these generational farms and ranches are gone, they cannot be brought back.”
The governor was joined by Senator Steve Daines, R-Montana, Senator Tim Sheehy, R-Montana, Congressman Ryan Zinke, and Congressman Troy Downing in signing the letter.
The letter to Sec. Burgum can be viewed here.
Source: Governor Gianforte’s Office
