EDUCATING FEDERAL LAND GRAZING PERMIT HOLDERS IN UTAH'S PIUTE AND WAYNE COUNTIES
Agricultural Issues
Trent Wilde
Extension Associate Professor
Utah State University Extension
Junction
Abstract
Over 70% of the land in southern Utah's Piute and Wayne Counties is federally owned. The forage on these federal lands has been utilized by grazing livestock for generations. Livestock grazing on federal lands is administered through grazing permit systems. These federal grazing permit systems were initiated by the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934. This act and other subsequent acts created 10 year renewable permits granting previous permit holders a first right of refusal for renewing the permits at the end of their term conditional upon meeting the requirements of the permit. Through additional legislation and resulting regulations, the requirements of these permits have become increasingly complex. As the complexity of these permits has increased, a lack of education has left many livestock producers uninformed about the details of the federal permits which they utilize. This lack of education has resulted in many misunderstanding and a significant amount of conflict. As Extension staff in these counties sought solutions to these challenges, it became apparent that much of the most severe conflict was rooted in misinformation. To address these challenges Extension held educational meetings with permit holders explaining the legislation and regulations pertaining to the permits. These educational meetings have confronted many misguided preconceptions and assumptions which have been the root of a significant amount of the conflict and have brought a more civil discourse to the process of permit administration and renewal.
Authors: Trent Wilde
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Trent Wilde Extension Associate Professor, Utah State University Extension, Utah, 84740