Read the full proposed decision here: American Prairie Proposed Decision January 16 2026.pdf


The Montana Farm Bureau, along with Phillips County Farm Bureau, triumphed in a proposed decision to remand American Prairie Reserve’s grazing leases. In its verdict yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management reversed a 2022 decision that allowed bison to graze on seven federal land allotments leased by the American Prairie Reserve. The nexus of BLM’s decision was that APR’s bison herd was not being raised for economic production and thus is a violation of the Taylor Grazing Act. 

In November 2022 the Montana Farm Bureau Federation and Phillips County Farm Bureau were granted the right to intervene in three appeals challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s final decision on requested changes to the grazing permits that allowed the American Prairie Reserve to graze bison on several grazing allotments in Phillips County.

In the case against APR, it was pointed out that there were multiple times the APR made it clear that these bison were not managed for production-oriented purposes but managed as wildlife. Therefore, their bison did not fall within the meaning of the terms livestock and domestic.


During the discovery process, Montana Farm Bureau and Phillips County Farm Bureau’s attorneys analyzed American Prairie’s financial records and it became clear they were not managing their bison herd for production-oriented purposes, which is contrary to the purpose and intent of the Taylor Grazing Act.  BLM’s 2022 decision set a dangerous precedent that could negatively impact the economic vitality of the livestock industry in every state that relies, even in part, on BLM administered lands for production livestock grazing. The resulting economic strain would disproportionately impact those rural communities that rely on the sustainability and stability of the production livestock industry, which has been steadfastly assured through the nearly ninety years the Taylor Grazing Act has been in place. 

In the three-plus years since the BLM’s decision, rural communities in northeastern Montana have continued to voice their concerns regarding the economic strain that comes when cattle are taken off the allotments and replaced with bison being grazed for conservation purposes.

“The BLM’s decision is a win for our Farm Bureau members and other area ranchers who were negatively affected by the 2022 decision that the APR could run their bison without regard to the Taylor Grazing Act,” said MFBF President Cyndi Johnson. “Returning those BLM allotments to their intended purpose will allow for a greater economic impact and provide more stability and hope for those rural communities that have been negatively affected by taking production agriculture off grazing leases.”

MFBF Vice President Casey Mott, a Custer rancher, echoed Johnson’s sentiments. “This is a victory for Montana ranchers who have been following the grazing rules for generations. It is wrong that a group like APR could come in and redefine ‘public grazing.’ The fact that the BLM recognized that public lands grazing is for economic production for livestock is a win for hard-working ranchers and a win for common sense.”

“BLM’s proposed decision is a win for ranchers and rural areas that rely on production agriculture for the very fabric of their communities,” said MFBF Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck. “Returning Bureau of Land Management allotments to grazing livestock infuses those communities with dollars spent on production practices, a stable tax base and most importantly the families that care for those allotments who add to the vitality of rural Montana.”