The Utah Farm Bureau released the following statement in reaction to the recently released Bureau of Land Management Conservation rule.

“The Utah Farm Bureau Federation is disappointed that despite scores of comments and recommendations, the final Public Lands rule released yesterday by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has changed little since its initial release. Federal land management agencies continue to ignore those who use the land according to multiple-use principles as outlined by the Federal Land and Policy Management Act (FLPMA) passed by Congress. Instead, they are placing inflexible, single-use priorities ahead of long-established multiple uses.

This rule will alter the management of BLM lands in Utah and across the West to the detriment of livestock grazing and other long-standing, economically beneficial uses of BLM lands and surrounding local communities.

Utah’s ranchers have a long history of caring for public lands and working to ensure the long-term health of the landscape. We look forward to continuing to use science-backed grazing practices to manage and enhance rangeland health – a goal the BLM should share.”