Should federal agencies permanently retire land alloted for grazing in the Western U.S.?
Bill Summary
The Rural Economic Vitalization Act would allow federal agencies to permanently retire allotments of land used for grazing anywhere in the Western U.S. if ranchers voluntarily waive their grazing permits. Third-party conservation groups would pay compensation at market values, and no more than 100 such permits could be retired each year.
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Opponents say
The Public Lands Council, which represents ranchers, sees reductions in available grazing land as the beginning of the end. "We're adamantly opposed to buyouts that retire land from grazing," says Dustin Van Liew, the council's executive director. "It sets a dangerous precedent. If you lose enough infrastructure, the whole industry could collapse."
Proponents say
Proponents of the bill argue that relinquishing grazing permits gives ranchers a variety of options, like paying off debts, shifting to more productive private land, investing in other businesses, or retiring, that they would not necessarily have otherwise.
