NE Wyoming News

Congresswoman Harriet Hageman has introduced the Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies (PASTURES) Act. The legislation aims to protect landowners with properties adjacent to federally leased lands from federal enforcement actions concerning livestock trespassing.

Hageman stated, "The Biden-Harris Administration continues to reduce grazing opportunities for livestock producers who hold federal grazing leases. This administration is making it increasingly difficult for ranchers on public and private lands to adjust to sudden changes in allocations - often creating circumstances where livestock cross into unfenced land, which ultimately results in heavy penalties for the rancher. My bill will prohibit federal land management agencies from enforcing a trespass after permits or leases are adjusted or rescinded - until the relevant land management agency constructs a fence to keep the livestock out."

The bill also emphasizes that livestock grazing serves as an essential land management tool on federal lands. Hageman added, "This legislation would help ranchers while also requiring our agencies to be better neighbors on our public lands by applying these appropriate fencing protocols."

Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of American Stewards of Liberty, supports the PASTURES Act. She remarked, "The Pasture Act will prevent the misuse of regulatory authorities by federal land management agencies and increase protections for American landowners." Byfield highlighted that allotments on federal lands are often unfenced even when bordering other properties, facilitating open corridors for livestock and wildlife. However, this practice can lead to issues when allotments are canceled by an agency.

Byfield stressed the need for Congress to limit federal agencies' powers: "Congress needs to reign in federal agencies powers, and this Act is a key step towards this end."

The PASTURES Act seeks to provide ranchers with security and stability following significant decisions regarding surrounding lands. The bill has received support from several organizations including the American Stewards of Liberty, Wyoming Farm Bureau, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, and R-CALF USA.