Public Lands For public lands ranchers, 2026 has been a historic year.

Major developments include repeal of the Public Lands Rule, the release of updated grazing regulations, and rescission of the Roadless Rule. Together, these actions represent some of the most significant public lands policy changes in decades.

NCBA and the Public Lands Council worked closely with the Trump administration and the Bureau of Land Management( BLM) to repeal the Public Lands Rule because it would have allowed federal agencies to prioritize conservation leases over traditional multiple-use activities, including livestock grazing. The repeal became final in May and marked a major victory for ranchers who depend on federal grazing allotments.

At the same time, BLM proposed the first major overhaul of federal grazing regulations in decades. Current regulations date back to the mid-1990s and have long been criticized for creating unnecessary administrative burdens and legal vulnerability for permit holders. The proposed amendments would provide greater flexibility within grazing permits, streamline administrative processes, expand opportunities for mentorship and entry of young ranchers, and prevent misuse of conservation provisions to challenge grazing permits. Perhaps most importantly, the proposed regulations would end the longstanding practice of placing sole responsibility for land conditions on grazing permit holders regardless of whether damage resulted from wildfire, invasive species, recreation, wildlife or other causes.

The 2026 wildfire season has also reinforced the need for better land management. By mid-September, more than 8.5 million acres have burned nationwide, creating serious challenges for livestock producers. NCBA continues to work with USDA to ensure producers have access to forage assistance, livestock indemnity support, transportation assistance, and other recovery resources following disasters. In the longer term, proactive land management is essential to reducing catastrophic wildfire risk. One major development has been USDA ' s effort to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, which restricted management activities on more than 57 million acres of national forest land. NCBA maintains that limiting active forest management contributed to increased fire risk, insect infestation, disease and declining forest health. Rescinding the rule would restore access for management activities, improve wildfire mitigation efforts, and expand grazing opportunities where appropriate.

While significant work remains, 2026 has delivered major policy victories for ranchers across the West. With more than 450 million acres of public lands affected by federal management policies, the reforms underway this year have the potential to benefit cattle producers and rural communities for decades to come.

Features of the Redbook include:

Building Your Operation’ s Biosecurity Plan

Fitness for Transport

Beef Quality Assurance Best Practices

Injection Site Quality Control Calf Information Health Records

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DIRECTIONS 2026 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN 11