The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), with the South Phillips Grazing Districts, has filed a motion to intervene in American Prairie Foundation v. US Department of the Interior, the federal case appealing the Bureau of Land Management's decision to uphold the Taylor Grazing Act's production standard and revoke bison grazing permits on seven Phillips County allotments.

'MSGA continues to stand firm that the BLM's determination was the correct interpretation of the Taylor Grazing Act and that the American Prairie bison do not meet the production-oriented livestock requirements,' said Raylee Honeycutt, the association's executive vice-president. 'Cattle ranchers' voices must be heard in this case and we must highlight the importance of lawful public lands management.'

In May, after a review directed by the Interior Department, the BLM found the bison on the allotments were managed primarily for conservation and ecological restoration rather than domestic livestock production, making the permits inconsistent with federal law; its final decision rescinded the bison authorisations, issued cattle-only permits where appropriate and set an orderly removal of bison from public land by 30 September 2026.

On 4 September the US District Court for the District of Montana granted in part American Prairie's request for a preliminary injunction, allowing its more than 900 bison to keep grazing the current federal allotments while the litigation continues, so the September deadline no longer forces their removal.

MSGA, which is raising funds for the appeal through its beef website, says it will keep defending ranching families, multiple-use public lands and the requirement that federal agencies follow established law in land-management decisions.

Source: Northern Ag Network