BLM, U.S. Forest Service announce 2018 grazing fees

The BLM and U.S. Forest Service announced 2018 grazing fees for federal land will be $1.41 per animal unit month (AUM) for BLM allotments, or per head month (HM) for Forest Service allotments. It was $1.87 in 2017. According to the joint announcement by both agencies, “the newly calculated grazing fee was determined by a congressional formula and takes effect March 1, 2018. The fee will apply to nearly 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM and nearly 6,500 permits administered by the Forest Service.” The fee is calculated annually according to a formula established in the 1978 Public Rangelands Improvement Act. It utilizes three main factors: current private grazing land lease rates; beef cattle prices; and the cost of livestock production. The base price set by law is $1.23. — WLJ