Forest Service proposes grazing rule overhaul with surcharge on authorized livestock leasing

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service has proposed revising its national rules on grazing and livestock use on the National Forest System, including a new surcharge for authorized leasing of livestock owned by persons other than the permittee.

The surcharge would equal 35% of the difference between the current year's federal grazing fee and the prior year's private grazing land lease rate per animal unit month for the appropriate state, according to the proposed rule (RIN 0596-AD75). In Eastern states it would equal 35% of the noncompetitive grazing fee. Livestock owned by properly documented mentees, beginning ranchers, permittee successors, immediate or extended family members, and operators receiving relief from drought, fire or other natural causes would be exempt.

The proposal would keep the existing grazing fee formula, its 25% annual change limit and its $1.35-per-animal-unit-month floor. It would consolidate fee-setting for national forests in the 16 contiguous Western states and the national grasslands into one section.

The rule would also remove a 10% bid deposit in Eastern states' competitive bidding, extend temporary non-use for personal convenience from 3 to 4 years, and set a framework for temporary responses to drought and wildfire, according to the document.

Grazing covers about 96 million acres of allotments, the department said. Comments are due 30 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.

The main grazing permit rules have not been comprehensively revised since 1977, the department said. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management signed a memorandum of understanding on grazing in March 2026.