To address historically low livestock inventories, U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, have introduced the Rebuilding America’s National Cow Herd (RANCH) Act.
The bipartisan legislation proposes a new voluntary grazing land restoration program to convert up to 20 million acres of marginal cropland into viable pasture, providing enough forage to support an estimated 2 to 4 million additional beef cows.
“South Dakota cattle producers understand that well-managed grazing is not only compatible with conservation, it’s one of our most effective conservation tools,” says Craig Bieber, South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association president and owner and operator of Bieber Red Angus Ranch near Leola. “Expanding access to grass, keeping working lands in production, and creating opportunities to responsibly grow the nation’s cattle herd can strengthen ranch families, rural communities and the health of our natural resources. The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association appreciates Senator Rounds’ efforts to recognize cattle as an essential part of healthy, productive landscapes.”
What Is the RANCH Act?
The RANCH Act is a voluntary, incentive-based program designed to help agricultural producers restore less productive cropland back into perennial grasslands for managed grazing. The program aims to reverse a 70-year decline in the U.S. beef cattle inventory while simultaneously creating vital habitats for wildlife.
Key Benefits of the RANCH Act
- Rebuilds the National Cattle Herd: Opens 20 million acres of new grazing land to support up to 4 million head of cattle.
- Improves Food Security: Expands the domestic beef supply chain, lowering consumer prices and reducing reliance on foreign beef imports.
- Stabilizes Crop Prices: Modestly tightens grain supplies and supports commodity pricing by reducing overall planted row-crop acres.
- Provides Financial Incentives: Offers targeted cost-share and signing incentive payments to lower the barrier of entry for beginning ranchers.
- Enhances Ecosystems: Restores native grasslands to improve water quality, boost soil health and combat the steep decline of grassland bird populations.
Why Is the RANCH Act Needed Now?
“Anyone who has spent time around cattle understands one simple truth: No grass means no cattle,” says Sen. Rounds. “With ranchers facing drought, high input costs and a shortage of grazing land, America’s beef cow herd is at its smallest size in over 70 years. The RANCH Act gives those who know their land best the tools they need to succeed.”
Sen. Klobuchar emphasizes the dual economic and environmental benefits: “The bipartisan RANCH Act will help farmers looking to start or expand a cow-calf herd while also providing wildlife habitat on the land. In the long-term, this plan can rebuild the domestic cattle herd and help drive down beef costs.”
Broad Coalition of Support
The RANCH Act is backed by an extensive coalition of agricultural and environmental organizations, including:
- South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association
- Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
- Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- National Audubon Society
- Ducks Unlimited
- Delta Waterfowl
- National Wildlife Federation
- Society for Range Management
“The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association is grateful for Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s and Sen. Mike Rounds’ support of the RANCH Act, which would establish a new voluntary grazing land restoration program to support and enhance grazing lands across the country,” says Jake Thompson, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association president. “Grazing is an incredible tool for land management, and it is great to see a program that offers cost-share and signing incentive payments to offset financial costs for the producers.”
