The Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act (PASTURES Act), H.R. 774, introduced Jan 28, 2025 by Rep. Hageman, would limit penalties against livestock owners for grazing on certain federal lands after such grazing was permitted and then prohibited. The key limit is triggered only when there is no fence on the land to prevent grazing; in that case, the Secretary concerned may not impose a penalty. The bill would also require the federal government to pay for the construction or ongoing maintenance of any fence intended to prevent grazing on these lands. The covered lands are defined as National Forest System lands, lands administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or public lands that border private property and which had grazing permits or leases issued on or after the date of enactment but are later prohibited. The act defines relevant terms (grazing permits or leases, livestock, National Forest System, public lands, and “Secretary concerned”) and clarifies which agencies would implement the provisions (Secretary of Agriculture for National Forest System lands; Secretary of the Interior for public lands and FWS lands). In short, it creates a framework where a lack of fencing forecloses penalties on certain grazing, while the government bears fencing costs to prevent future grazing on these lands.
Key Points
- 1The Secretary may not penalize a livestock owner for grazing on “covered lands” if there is no fence preventing such grazing.
- 2The government (federal) would be responsible for all expenses related to constructing or maintaining fences intended to prevent grazing on these covered lands.
- 3“Covered lands” include National Forest System lands, lands administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and public lands that border private property and had grazing permits or leases issued after enactment but are later prohibited.
- 4A grazing permit or lease is defined by specific federal regulations (36 CFR 222.1; 50 CFR 29.2; 43 CFR 4130.2) to determine what constitutes authorization to graze.
- 5“Grazing livestock” includes cattle, bison, horses, sheep, and goats; the term “Secretary concerned” assigns enforcement and implementation to the appropriate federal agency (USDA for NFS lands; DOI for public lands and FWS lands).