The Public Lands Rule enacted earlier this year by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has the potential to be a positive step in the direction of flexible grazing management on public lands, or a significant challenge to the ranching industry in their ability to access affordable grazing options. It will be in livestock producers’ reaction, and subsequent forward action to this rule, that the outcome is written.
The Public Lands Rule is a recent policy action taken by the BLM. As written in the summary section of the rule proposal, this rule:
“ … would advance the BLM's mission to manage the public lands for multiple use and sustained yield by prioritizing the health and resilience of ecosystems across those lands. To ensure that health and resilience, the proposed rule provides that the BLM will protect intact landscapes, restore degraded habitat and make wise management decisions based on science and data. To support these activities, the proposed rule would apply land health standards to all BLM-managed public lands and uses, (and) clarify that conservation is a “use” within FLPMA's multiple-use framework … ”
The emphasis of concern to most is the statement placing conservation on seemingly equal footing with all other current “uses.” The BLM paints a nice picture. In the Q&A section on the rule’s website, it states that the rule will “promote restoration of our lands and waters, provide for balanced, responsible development, and conserve the best intact healthy landscapes,” — none of which seem to be a negative outcome. While there may be general agreement that these goals are desirable, there will be disagreement on how they should be accomplished.
After a significant and extended comment period, the BLM reiterated that the rule is not meant to replace existing uses, stating the rule “does not change the BLM’s multiple-use mission – rather, it would ensure the BLM’s ability to deliver it in the future. Energy development, mining, grazing, timber, outdoor recreation and other uses would continue.” And that “In their endeavor to conserve public lands, they cannot succeed without their partners and stakeholders.” Those statements give the impression that collaboration will be welcome. With that in mind, there are certain outcomes that could come out of this rule. Some for the better and some not.
It is possible that the renewed and more specified emphasis on conservation could help the development and tolerance of more flexible land management practices – not only on BLM leases but on other federal leases as well. Grazing management can be a powerful tool in conservation efforts, but that tool is only used to its fullest potential when applied based on what the land needs at the time the land needs it. The new rule may also bring more people to the table and provide an opportunity to work with differing interest groups to showcase how livestock production can be an integral part of conservation efforts.
Clearly, there are concerns. One of the largest is that conservation or other special interest groups, which routinely have significant funds to work with, will outbid ranchers for BLM grazing permits in the name of conservation, leaving them fallow. It will be important that decision-makers can sift actual conservation concerns from fabricated “uses” merely designed to keep livestock off the landscape. Another real concern is the potential emboldening of those who hold anti-agricultural stances, leading to increased pressure and effort to change other public policies relating to food production.
So what can producers do to spin this new rule into a positive opportunity? Here are three actions that can help guide the outcome:
- Establish an amicable working relationship with BLM and other federal lease land managers. If there is currently a strained relationship, work to repair it. Find some common ground and start there. Having decision-makers willing to listen and have discussions about possible practice changes will be important. This can lead to the consideration of out-of-the-box management practices that can support the mission of improved conservation.
- Begin to take steps that will show conservation-minded management. In addition, emphasize what steps have already been taken. It will be harder for a special interest group to take over a lease if it is evident that conservation-minded management is already happening and that focus areas such as wildlife habitat, riparian areas or streambeds are being protected and rejuvenated.
- Get involved. It is important that livestock producers take the lead in writing the story told about them. There is a reinforcing relationship in how exposure leads to greater understanding. Greater understanding leads to greater empathy. Greater empathy leads to greater tolerance. And greater tolerance leads to more exposure.
Producers can tap into this tolerance cycle (Figure 1) by being visible in their communities beyond their agricultural cohorts. Attend public meetings, be willing to speak to the press about certain issues, participate in forums and civil debates, and utilize social media. While it may be uncomfortable, it is important. The 2020 U.S. census found that 80% of the country’s population lives in urban areas. In addition, the average person in the U.S. is two to three generations removed from agriculture, leaving many unaware of where food comes from and best practices associated with its production. This void is often filled with misinformation from sources outside the food production industry.
While the BLM’s Public Lands Rule could potentially be a challenge for the livestock industry, producers can work to guide it toward a positive outcome. This can be accomplished through quality relationships, cooperation among interest groups and highlighting the contribution the industry already makes to conservation.
