WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior yesterday announced a joint agreement to expand livestock grazing on federally managed lands as part of a broader strategy to rebuild the U.S. cow herd and strengthen domestic cattle production.
The agreement focuses on reopening vacant grazing allotments, maintaining existing grazing capacity, improving coordination between agencies, and streamlining the permitting process.
“Rebuilding the U.S. cow herd and strengthening our domestic food supply must remain a national priority,” said R-CALF USA Property Rights Chair Shad Sullivan. “Food security is national security, and American producers must have the freedom and resources to produce. For too long, federal policy has limited grazing access and restricted opportunities for livestock producers, particularly in the West, to grow and expand.
“We’ve been pushing for improvements to grazing access and permitting, and yesterday’s announcement reflects progress on those priorities.
“Building on this progress, expanding grazing opportunities, ensuring permits are protected and fully utilized, and making additional land available for grazing, including Conservation Reserve Program acres, will be critical to strengthening the U.S. cattle industry.”
During the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also expressed strong support for mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said Rollins’ statement marks a significant development in the administration’s support for MCOOL, a long-standing priority for American cattle producers and consumers.
“For years, independent cattle producers have fought to restore transparency in the marketplace and ensure consumers know where their beef comes from,” Bullard said. “MCOOL is one of the most important policy tools available to strengthen domestic cattle production and restore fairness for American ranchers. It builds upon the ‘Product of USA’ labeling campaign that Secretary Rollins just rolled out, and we look forward to working with the secretary and Congress to get it enacted.”
