Since the earliest settlement of the West, and particularly Montana, ranchers have been the caretakers and stewards of open, federal rangeland. This arrangement has been a mutually beneficial one – lessees of federal lands are responsible, environmentally-conscious land managers in partnership with the federal government. In turn, these lands, in combination with private lands, help to create many viable ranching operations for rural families, contributing to local economies and the western way of life.
Our Mission
The main responsibility of the Montana Public Lands Council is to develop and coordinate unified policy positions and pursue legislative and regulatory actions that most effectively represent Montana public lands grazing users. The Montana Public Lands Council is a leading state organization in monitoring, initiating and coordinating actions on priority public lands issues in the state.
The Montana Public Lands Council also works closely with the National Public Lands Council in Washington, D.C., on a number of national issues affecting federal lands grazing.
National Public Lands Council
Public Lands Council strives to maintain a stable business environment for ranchers with public lands grazing permits, who are the caretakers of the range, the economic drivers of rural western communities, and providers of food and fiber for the nation.
