Utah Farm Bureau Federation President ValJay Rigby commented on the recent announcement by USDA to relocate the Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City.

“We look forward to improved management of our nation’s forest service lands by having managers closer to the land and our farmers and ranchers who use it,” said ValJay Rigby, President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. “While livestock grazers in Utah, and throughout the west, are one group that benefits from the public lands’ multiple uses, they also provide a great benefit by reducing wildfire risks. Our farmers and ranchers, and the public who recreate on these lands, will benefit from having this land management agency in our backyard.”

“We all benefit when programs, technical support, and leadership are accessible, efficient, and engaged at the local level,” Rigby added. “Bringing the Forest Service to Utah will strengthen local decision making, ensure services are more responsive to western ranchers, and foster collaboration that reflects the unique conditions and federal land ownership in our state and the region.”