06.13.25

Hoeven Working with Interior Secretary, USFS Chief to Improve Grazing Access on Federal Lands

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week outlined priorities to improve access to federal lands for grazers in discussions with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz. During hearings of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee, respectively, Hoeven:

  • Outlined the need to streamline the process for issuing grazing permits.
  • Discussed efforts to update the Little Missouri National Grassland Travel Management Plan.
    • Hoeven secured a commitment from Schultz to work with North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and local grazing associations during this process.
    • The senator stressed the importance of ensuring the plan works for grazers, who need reliable access to federal lands for their operations.
    • To this end, Hoeven also urged Schultz to work with him on making section line rights-of-way available so ranchers can access their cattle in the Little Missouri National Grasslands.
  • Encouraged Schultz to continue working with him on better managing pests in the national grasslands, including prairie dogs and noxious weeds.
    • Hoeven highlighted his previous work with USFS Deputy Chief Chris French on efforts to address noxious weeds on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands and urged Schultz to maintain these efforts.

“We’ve had a tremendous partnership with USFS Deputy Chief French who has worked with us to address our priorities for the national grasslands, like noxious weed control. This week’s hearings were an opportunity to keep these initiatives moving forward, ensure these federal acres are properly managed and improve access for grazing,” said Hoeven. “Importantly, Chief Schultz has committed to consult with our grazers and Ag Commissioner Goehring as the Travel Management Plan for the Little Missouri National Grassland is updated. That’s a critical part of our work to make sure we have rancher-friendly policies in place that strengthen access to the vast federal acreage in North Dakota.”

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