National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association
APRIL 2026 | Vol. 42, No. 6 | NCBA. org
NCBA WORKS TO EXPAND GRAZING ACCESS AND PREVENT WILDFIRES
As wildfires grow more intense and land‐use debates continue to reshape the West, the role of grazing on working lands is gaining renewed attention. When NCBA sets its policy priorities each year, the recurring commitment to“ keep working lands in working hands” reflects more than tradition, it signals a proactive vision by protecting and expanding grazing access. Much more goes into this work than that simple phrase suggests, it is a multi‐faceted approach involving all three branches of government and significant advocacy work by NCBA.
One of the recent grazing access victories is the process of repealing the Bureau of Land Management’ s( BLM)“ Public Lands Rule,” which threatens the future of western cattle grazing. NCBA fought in federal court and engaged with the Trump administration to repeal the rule. This was a huge, highly publicized win for all producers, and NCBA is constantly working on advancing incremental policy changes to achieve this goal. Further expanding grazing access not only helps increase the amount of cattle on the landscape but also helps to maintain millions of acres of open rangeland and prevent catastrophic wildfires like the ones that have raged across the country over the last several years.
In March, two grazing bills backed by NCBA advanced from Senate committees with bipartisan support. The first bill, the
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CATTLE THAT FIT THEIR ENVIRONMENT | PG. 13
Genetic tools have the potential to help producers make specific decisions for their management, environment and goals.
DESIGNING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT | PG. 16
A key piece when considering a conservation easement is determining the funding source that best suits your goals.
NEW ADVANTAGE IN RANCHING | PG. 18
New fencing technologies offer more knowledge about the land and herd grazing patterns.