For too long, ranchers have dealt with overcomplicated, burdensome regulations that make running a business nearly impossible. With a new Republican-led Congress and President Trump in the White House, we have a rare opportunity to cut federal red tape and rebuild our systems post-by-post to better serve Idaho’s farmers and ranchers. The Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health (RANCH) Act is just one way I’m working to fulfill this promise.
The RANCH Act, which I introduced with Senator Barrasso (R-Wyo.), will ensure Idaho’s ranchers can count on access to healthy rangelands even in times of disaster. Catastrophic wildfires have increasingly become a part of Idahoans’ lives. Federal mismanagement of our forests and sagebrush steppe has led to high fuel loads and drought across Idaho’s public lands, making us more susceptible to wildfire. Idaho’s fire season has only grown longer and hotter as the years have passed. Last year alone, nearly one million acres in the state went up in smoke due to the poor management of our federal lands. Until we can return our lands to healthy, productive uses, upcoming fire seasons will likely be no different.
Currently, there is no process enabling the relocation of grazing livestock during disasters like fire. This gives Idaho ranchers no choice but to put themselves in danger to protect their animals and prevent significant losses to their businesses. The RANCH Act will address this regulatory shortfall by allowing ranchers to temporarily use vacant grazing allotments during extreme events. It’s a simple solution that will lessen the burden on grazers and lead to higher industry resiliency. The RANCH Act also directs much-needed funding to rangeland health projects, extends certain grazing permit periods to 20 years, and creates a categorical exclusion for permit renewal.
It’s time the federal government recognizes what Idaho ranchers and industry partners have known for years—that grazing is a critical tool for rangeland health and wildfire prevention. We must bring Idaho voices to the table and find solutions that build on the success of decades of local management practices. The RANCH Act is a significant first step in our push to bring commonsense back to natural resource management.
As a rancher and landowner, I fully understand the frustrations Idahoans and all Americans experience when dealing with unreasonable and overreaching federal regulations. The tides are changing in Washington, D.C. It is now more important than ever that Congress seize this opportunity to restore reason to the management of our lands and natural resources. I’m proud to lead this effort alongside my Republican colleagues. Together, we will deliver real results for the people and industries that know and love Idaho best.
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