PLC highlights public lands, grazing wins at convention

After years of uncertainty surrounding federal land management and grazing policy, producers are starting to see meaningful progress, according to Public Lands Council (PLC) Executive Director and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Government Affairs Kaitlynn Glover, who provided an update during the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) 2025 Winter Roundup Convention and Trade Show, held Dec. 8-10 in Casper. 

During the morning session on Dec. 9, Glover told convention attendees the past year marked one of the most productive periods for public lands and grazing policy in more than a decade, which she credited to U.S. producers’ unwavering advocacy and resilience. 

“This year has been momentous for natural resource issues – not because of who is in the White House or who is in Congress, but because of the generations and decades of work all of you have done to turn your priorities into real policy wins,” she stated.

Grazing policy wins 

To begin, Glover said this is the most friendly Congress she has seen in over a decade when it comes to grazing issues, with more than a dozen grazing-related bills passed in the U.S. House this year, including legislation addressing rangeland improvements, targeted grazing, permit flexibility and forest health.

Among some of the most notable victories, Glover highlighted efforts to reverse late-term guidance from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which would have restricted routine grazing permit renewals. 

She explained the instructional memoranda, quietly issued without public process, would have undermined long-standing Congressional direction allowing permit renewals under categorical exclusions when no conditions change.

With the help of state and national partners like NCBA, WSGA, the Wyoming Public Lands Coalition and others, PLC intervened and successfully overturned the policy early in the year.

“Producers who have been through a permit renewal in the past 10 years know how dangerous this would have been,” she said. “It also flew directly in the face of Congressional direction.”

Additionally, Glover noted PLC and its partners determined this guidance wasn’t the result of a court-approved settlement, but a voluntary policy shift by the agency instead. 

“This wasn’t legal policy,” she pointed out. “It was voluntary change signaling a dangerous direction for grazing moving forward, and overturning it became priority number one.”

Glover also noted PLC’s success in halting the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) proposed National Old-Growth Amendment, a broad plan to standardize protections for old-growth forests across the U.S.

She explained blanket protections across the nation’s 128 national forests would have undermined multiple-use management and livestock grazing.

Regulatory reset

While regulatory activity often raises concern among producers, Glover said the past year brought meaningful improvements, particularly through reform to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), in which the administration is attempting to return to its simpler, 1970s-era framework.

“We know NEPA needs to be faster, shorter and more targeted and effective,” she said. “This is what holds up a significant number of permitted activities.”  

“This is one of the biggest silent wins we’ve seen,” she added. “It changes the foundation for everything else we do on federal lands.” 

Glover also outlined progress on BLM grazing regulation revisions, rolling back the 2001 Roadless Rule, expanding targeted grazing authority, addressing migratory bird depredation and scrutinizing major Endangered Species Act rules. 

In addition, Glover confirmed BLM’s controversial Public Lands Rule, which originally went into effect in June 2024, is in the process of being rescinded following litigation led by PLC and its partners.  

“We’re likely going to be out of court very soon,” she noted. “We have a draft rescission out, comments have been submitted and we expect the rescission to be final early next year.” 

“The agency stepped outside of its Congressional authority here,” she added. “Rolling this rule back restores multiple use and puts grazing back on solid legal ground.” 

Major reform 

Another landmark achievement Glover highlighted was the passage of a major tax reform package earlier this summer.

According to Glover, the legislation included extensions and relief related to the estate tax, improvements to Section 199A deductions and changes to capital expensing – provisions PLC believes are critical to protecting family ranches. 

“This was a massive deal,” she stated. “As you sit down with your accountants at the end of the year, this will be top of mind – protecting operations, protecting legacies and protecting the way we do business.”

Glover also noted the agency made significant strides on wildlife issues, particularly in regards to grizzly bears and gray wolves.

She explained PLC is in the midst of pursuing a multi-pronged national strategy to delist wolves across distinct population segments, and she noted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision not to develop a new recovery plan signals confidence the species has met recovery goals, which is a necessary step toward delisting. 

“We have the science, and we have the proof,” she said. “These species do not need federal protections in order to be managed.” 

Looking ahead 

Despite positive progress on the policy front, Glover wrapped up her discussion by drawing attention to staffing shortages at federal agencies, particularly within USFS rangeland programs. 

She urged producers to engage directly with agency partners and to take advantage of new contracting and cooperative authorities. 

“The success of everything we have done in Washington, D.C. depends on what happens on the ground,” she said. “Producers’ partnerships with their local agency offices is what makes this work real.” 

Glover closed her presentation by encouraging producers to participate in the United Nations’ (UN) International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026, deeming it a once-in-a-generation opportunity. 

“I think we have an incredible opportunity in front of us to build on the success we have seen this year,” she stated. “The UN council who designates these international years is highlighting agricultural production, land management and the kind of pastoralism that really protects open space – not only just across the U.S. but around the world.”

Glover said she believes the initiative brings an opportunity for producers to tell their story in “the single largest global effort of any international year designation.”

“This is your opportunity to show the world what Wyoming ranchers do and why it matters,” she concluded.  

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.