The Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has announced federal grazing fees on national forests and grasslands will remain at $1.35 per head month for 2021. South Dakota Stock Grower’s Association Executive Director James Halverson says that’s positive. He is however encouraging his group’s members to submit comments on the review of grazing policy currently underway.

He says producers need to take their story to the Biden administration of how they benefit the environment with their grazing practices.

Halverson says they’re looking forward to working with Tom Vilsack who’s likely to be confirmed as Agriculture Secretary but have more concerns with some of the other administration’s nominees, namely Interior Department Secretary nominee Deb Haaland.

The formula used for calculating the grazing fee was established in Congress in the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act and amended in the 1978 Public Rangelands Improvement Act.