Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, on Aug. 19 introduced legislation intended to help rebuild the domestic cattle herd.
The Rebuilding America’s National Cow Herd (RANCH) Act would create a new voluntary grazing land restoration program that could open up to 20 million new acres for grazing.
“The bipartisan RANCH Act will help farmers looking to start a cow-calf herd or expand their existing herd while also providing wildlife habitat on the land,” Klobuchar said.
The senators said the legislation could provide enough grazing land to support an estimated 2-4 million additional beef cows.
The RANCH Act is supported by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, Society for Range Management and Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, among others.
