PLC works to support and maintain livestock grazing on public lands by advocating for and educating decision makers of the many values livestock grazing contributes to our natural resources and to the public.
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Real Ranchers. Real Stories. Rancher Profile: Matt McElligott Matt McElligott has family ties to agriculture that go back well over a century. Starting out in Kansas, his family began ranching in the 1800s, eventually homesteading in Eastern Oregon where the family ranch still operates in the McElligott name Continue Reading Real Ranchers. Real Stories. Rancher Profile: Dan Anderson Planting Roots The Anderson family hails from South Dakota with deep roots in the area and its rich agricultural history. As Dan Anderson tells it, his grandparents came to the United States in the early 1900s, and in 1959, Dan’s parents Continue Reading Press Releases Biden NEPA Framework Compromises Environmental, Economic Goals WASHINGTON (April 19, 2022) – The Public Lands Council (PLC) and The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today expressed concern that the Biden administration’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rule undermines progress made over the last several years at a Continue Reading PLC Events,Other Events 2022 Public Lands Council Annual Meeting After a long stretch of virtual meetings, PLC is excited to announce our 2022 Annual meeting in Cody, Wyoming! Join us August 24-26 for a full-fledged line-up of informative general sessions, policy committee meetings, cocktail hours, awards banquets, and much Continue Reading Press Releases PLC Now Accepting FY23 Grant Proposals WASHINGTON (APRIL 12, 2022) – The application period is now open for Fiscal Year 2023 grants from the Public Lands Council. PLC’s grant program offers funding on a competitive basis to projects that can equip public lands ranchers and land managers Continue Reading Press Releases PLC and NCBA Welcome Expansion of ELAP WASHINGTON (April 1, 2022) – The Public Lands Council (PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcome the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to expand the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to cover a portion Continue Reading Press Releases PLC and NCBA Denounce BLM Decision on APR Allotment Conversion WASHINGTON (March 31, 2022) – Today, the Public Lands Council (PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) denounced the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed decision on the American Prairie Reserve’s (APR) request to graze bison on seven grazing allotments in Montana.“In addition Continue Reading Press Releases PLC and NCBA Disappointed in Court Decision to Relist Gray Wolves Under ESA WASHINGTON (February 10, 2022) – Today, the Public Lands Council (PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) expressed opposition to the U.S. District Court’s ruling to remand and vacate the gray wolf Endangered Species Act (ESA) delisting announced by the Continue Reading Press Releases PLC Responds to 2022 Grazing Fees WASHINGTON (Feb. 1, 2022) — Today, the Public Lands Council released the following statement regarding the announcement of the 2022 federal grazing fee.“Each year, ranchers across the West depend on a grazing fee process that is transparent and accurately reflects Continue Reading Real Ranchers. Real Stories. Rancher Profile: Niels Hansen The great American West was built upon the ideals of hard work, perseverance, and tradition. It’s these same principles that serve as the foundation for so many families who ranch in that part of the country today. And that’s no Continue Reading Press Releases PLC Opens Registration for 2022 Legislative Conference WASHINGTON (December 17, 2021) — Today, the Public Lands Council (PLC) opened registration for its annual Legislative Conference on March 28-29, 2022. Returning to an in-person format in our nation's capital, the event will provide a platform for ranchers to speak directly with Continue Reading PLC Events,Other Events PLC Legislative Conference It's time to amplify your voice in our nation's capital! PLC's Legislative Conference is going virtual.While we had hoped to move forward with a “normal” meeting in the new year, it has become clear that significant portions of the typical Continue Reading Press Releases NCBA and PLC Prioritize Local Conservation, Sound Science in Sage Grouse Scoping Process WASHINGTON (November 19, 2021) — Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the beginning of a scoping process on Greater Sage-Grouse management, a part of the agency’s process to revise west-wide management plans through regulatory action. Public Lands Council Continue Reading Press Releases NCBA and PLC: Administration Can't Designate Their Way to a Conservation Win on Paper WASHINGTON (October 8, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) criticized the Biden administration's unilateral decision to put sweeping federal designations on millions of acres surrounding the Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Continue Reading Press Releases Ranchers Seek Positive Action from Incoming Bureau of Land Management Director WASHINGTON (October 1, 2021) – The Public Lands Council (PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today issued the following statement on the Senate confirmation of Tracy Stone-Manning as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM):“The BLM has been Continue Reading Press Releases PLC Grants Awarded to Local Cattle Associations, Research and Legal Teams WASHINGTON (September 30, 2021) — The Public Lands Council (PLC) announced this week that they will provide over $450,000 in grant funding to multiple cattle groups, university research teams, and federal land-focused organizations to support research and educational programs that strengthen Continue Reading Press Releases PLC Honors Colorado Rancher, Longtime Idaho BLM Leader at Annual Meeting WASHINGTON (September 29, 2021) — The Public Lands Council (PLC) honored individuals who have demonstrated an exceptional dedication to the industry and partnership with public lands ranchers during PLC’s 53rd Annual Meeting this week.Colorado rancher Robbie LeValley was selected as Continue Reading Press Releases BLM Recognizes Ranchers for Exemplary Stewardship of Public Rangelands BOISE, Idaho (September 28, 2021) — Today, the Bureau of Land Management recognized two ranches with federal grazing permits for their outstanding work to restore, enhance, and protect vital Western ecosystems.The 2021 Rangeland Stewardship and Sagebrush-Steppe Awards were presented during the Continue Reading Press Releases Ranchers Engage with Key Administration Officials and Partners at 53rd PLC Annual Meeting BOISE, Idaho (September 28, 2021) — Today, ranchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from across the country will gather virtually for the Public Lands Council’s (PLC) 53rd Annual Meeting.The event provides federal grazing permittees with the opportunity to shape PLC policy and engage with Continue Reading PLC Events,Other Events American Sheep Industry Association’s Targeted Grazing Handbook Listening Session Register today!ASI is currently working on an update to their existing Targeted Grazing Handbook. This update is intended to be a hands-on supplement for new and existing targeted grazers, with topics including: developing a prescription, animal husbandry, federal/state grazing, and Continue Reading PLC Events Webinar: Next Generation Rangeland Monitoring and Knowledge Access Apps: Roundtable with USDA-ARS Register today!Join Jeff Herrick (ARS) for this interactive workshop which will provide input to USDA-ARS as it designs and develops the next generation of apps and other tools to (a) access management-relevant knowledge and information, including through Ecological Site Descriptions, Continue Reading PLC Events Webinar: Emerging Natural Resource Legal Trends with Western Resources Legal Center Register today!Join top legal minds from the Western Resources Legal Center as they provide a roadmap of legal strategies that have been used to challenge the rights and interests of public lands ranchers – and how our community can best Continue Reading Press Releases NCBA and PLC Condemn BLM Headquarters Move in the Middle of Historic Crises WASHINGTON (September 17, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) condemned the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) decision to relocate its headquarters to Washington, D.C. amid multiple, historic environmental crises in the western United States."More Continue Reading Press Releases NCBA and PLC Confident That FWS Review Will Find Western Gray Wolves Recovered WASHINGTON (September 15, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) said they are confident that the newly announced review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will confirm what conservation groups, scientists, and Continue Reading Press Releases NCBA and PLC Denounce the Administration's Misguided Focus on Wilderness Designations WASHINGTON (September 1, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) denounced the administration's elevated focus on federal wilderness designations as an overly-broad tool for reaching climate goals and targets laid out under the America the Beautiful conservation Continue Reading PLC Events Grazing on public lands: What are the true costs? Register today!Join PLC’s upcoming webinar on August 4, 2021 at 6 p.m. MDT that features Kasey Dollerschell and her findings on the costs of grazing on federal lands and investments made by permittees in addition to the annual grazing fees. Continue Reading 2022 Legislative Conference Join us virtually on March 30, 2022!While we had hoped to move forward with a “normal” meeting in the new year, it has become clear that significant portions of the typical legislative conference agenda would be impossible to carry out Continue Reading Other Events New Mexico Cattle Growers Joint Stockmen's Convention More details coming soon! Trade Show Reception Cattlemen's College Vendorshttps://www.nmagriculture.org/joint-stockmens-convention.html Continue Reading Other Events National Grazing Lands Coalition Conference 8TH NATIONAL GRAZING LANDS CONFERENCEThe 8NGLC promotes grazing land sustainability by bringing together hundreds of land managers from across the nation for education and technological advancements. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain the latest information in scientific and applied Continue Reading Other Events Utah Wool Growers Association Details coming soon!https://www.utahwoolgrowers.com/ Continue Reading
PLC and NCBA Denounce BLM Decision on APR Allotment Conversion
PLC and NCBA Disappointed in Court Decision to Relist Gray Wolves Under ESA
PLC Responds to 2022 Grazing Fees
Rancher Profile: Niels Hansen
PLC Opens Registration for 2022 Legislative Conference
Upcoming Events
24Aug, 22 PLC Events, Other Events
2022 Public Lands Council Annual Meeting
An Enduring Connection to America’s Public Lands
On the ranges where they live and work, public lands ranchers play an integral role in regional and national efforts to safeguard America’s open spaces, local industries, and rural heritage.
A Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Ranchers are committed to environmental stewardship initiatives that preserve open spaces, renew native plant life, preserve clean water, and protect habitat for endangered species.
Working For Strong Rural Communities
Public land ranching is essential to independent, family businesses that contribute to the economic and social sustainability of America’s rural communities.
