MSGA to intervene in American Prairie appeal

The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) filed a motion to intervene in environmental groups’ appeal of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision to revoke bison grazing permits from American Prairie.

“The BLM’s decision to uphold the Taylor Grazing Act follows years of advocacy from the ranching community,” said Raylee Honeycutt, MSGA executive vice president. “The decision being appealed reinforced the importance of lawful public lands management and ensured federal grazing policies remain aligned with the original intent of supporting working ranchers, rural communities, and agricultural production.”

In May, BLM rescinded the group’s federal grazing permits in Phillips County, MT, citing that American Prairie’s bison did not meet the requirements of “production-oriented livestock” under the Taylor Grazing Act.

In early June, the American Prairie Foundation, Western Watersheds Project and Defenders of Wildlife filed motions to appeal the agency’s decision.