(U.S. Senator James E. Risch Press Release, January 31, 2025)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health (RANCH) Act. This legislation promotes resilient and healthy rangelands and effective grazing management across the West.
“As a rancher, I have seen firsthand the immense benefits grazing brings to Idaho’s public lands and our agricultural economy,” said Senator Risch. “The RANCH Act ensures grazing management decisions properly benefit ranchers and rural communities to maintain Idaho’s way of life.”
“Livestock grazing plays a critical role for Wyoming’s ranchers to maintain rangeland health and protect their livelihoods,” said Senator Barrasso. “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. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).
The RANCH Act will:
- Allow temporary utilization of vacant grazing allotments during extreme events/disasters;
- Allocate funding for rangeland health and resiliency projects and public access agreements to land-locked 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; and
- 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.
