Yesterday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) by USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins and DOI Secretary Doug Burgum. It formalizes enhanced coordination between the USDA Forest Service (FS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support ranchers using public lands for livestock grazing. 

This MOU builds directly on the USDA's Grazing Action Plan (released in fall 2025 as part of broader efforts to strengthen the U.S. beef industry). The plan and MOU aim to:

  • Boost domestic beef production by increasing and stabilizing access to federal grazing lands.
  • Cut bureaucratic red tape and delays in permitting.
  • Recognize ranchers (permittees) as essential partners in land management.
  • Support rural economies in the West while maintaining or improving rangeland health and reducing wildfire risks through managed grazing.
  • Contribute to lower consumer prices for beef by expanding supply and efficiency. 

Here in Arizona, ranchers can identify with the current challenges this MOU hopes to address. “At last count, we have 84 vacant U.S. Forest Service grazing allotments in Arizona and New Mexico,” said Arizona Farm Bureau Second Vice President and southern Rancher Ben Menges. “That’s just one agency, and one Forest Service region. This is the same story throughout the West, and if the trend continues, we simply won’t be using the public’s land for food. This MOU is a terrific start to make meaningful changes to ranches that utilize federal lands. A rancher’s job in the desert is difficult enough. It’s high time the federal government realizes it should be working to encourage beef production rather than presenting unnecessary obstacles preventing it from occurring. It’s refreshing for Arizona ranchers to have friends in Secretaries Rollins and Burgum, and I look forward to seeing what results come from this MOU.”

Added American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, “Farmers and ranchers appreciate USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for their work to improve access to public lands for grazing. Public lands offer quality grazing grounds for livestock, which in turn reduces wildfire risk and contributes to the vitality of rural communities across the West. The MOU will reduce delays, enhance transparency, and streamline the approval of grazing permits to help ranchers raise livestock to meet the protein needs of America’s families.”

Approximately 240 million acres of federal rangelands (managed by FS and BLM across 28 states) support over 20,000 to 23,000 ranchers and permittees. About 10% of grazing allotments (roughly 24 million acres) are currently vacant, and the initiative seeks to maintain or restore capacity with a goal of “no net loss” of grazing opportunities. 

 

Key Provisions of the MOU

The agreement emphasizes efficiency, transparency, and collaboration. Specific actions include:

  • Streamlining processes — Reducing delays in approving grazing permits, infrastructure improvements (e.g., fences, water developments), and emergency responses (such as drought or wildfire-related adjustments).
  • Improved inter-agency coordination — Aligning policies and procedures between Forest Service and BLM, especially for ranchers whose operations cross administrative boundaries.
  • Enhanced transparency and engagement — Direct involvement of permittees in decision-making, treating them as partners rather than just regulated users.
  • Supporting wildfire mitigation — Promoting targeted grazing to reduce fuel loads and establishing rancher liaisons for wildfire incident command.
  • Assessing and activating vacant allotments — Efforts to bring underused areas back into production where feasible.
  • Unifying permitting frameworks — Making rules more consistent across agencies. 

 

These steps aim to modernize grazing management while safeguarding public lands through collaborative, science-based practices.

Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized putting "America’s farmers and ranchers first," eliminating costly bureaucracy, and using public lands for the people to enable more efficient ranching operations. She linked the MOU to broader goals of herd rebuilding and lower food prices. 

Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted the collaborative partnership that strengthens ranching while protecting public lands and building on the Grazing Action Plan.