BLM's Biggest Grazing Update in 20 Years Is Here
July 8, 2026
BLM has proposed updates to their federal lands grazing regulations for the first time in more than 20 years. NCBA and PLC urge all grazing permittees to submit comments in support of these changes. All comments must be submitted before midnight Eastern on July 13, 2026!
The proposed regulations make key updates to the regulations to make the agency incorporate the best science and monitoring, improves the ability to use grazing as a land management tool as well as a key forage source for food and fiber production, and protects ranchers’ access to federal lands.
Public Lands Council President and Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury says ranchers across the West have made one thing clear during recent listening sessions: more flexibility and better science are needed to manage federal grazing permits.
Key points in the proposed regulations:
- Improve landscape analyses to conduct a “step-down process” where the agency would conduct assessments of overall land health and identify causal factors for any disturbance or impacts found. This causal factor analysis will inform the agency which use is causing the condition on the landscape and authorizes the agency to adjust that use, rather than always defaulting to adjusting grazing. This addresses the longstanding burden grazing permittees have borne on behalf of other uses.
- Applies greater flexibility to administration of all permits by giving an additional 21-day window on permits to be responsive to range conditions.
- Requires that grazing permittees be engaged in a production-oriented business, eliminating abuse from groups who never had any intention to graze the allotment.
- Protects permittees who may want to take temporary non-use for personal or business reasons.
- Improves the billing process to save both BLM staff time and reduce burdens on permittees.
- Suggest changes to the appeals process to protect permittees’ ability to contest bad decisions.
NCBA and the Public Lands Council say these changes represent meaningful improvements for federal grazing permittees and are urging producers to submit comments before the public comment period closes at midnight Eastern on July 13th. They say strong grassroots participation will be critical as BLM finalizes the rule.
Submit comments by clicking here.
Source: NCBA/PLC
