How does a grazing permit work?
Grazing permits are typically issued for ten years to individuals or corporations that are in the livestock business. These permits are for certain “privileges or preferences” to graze within designated areas within public lands (called grazing *allotments*) with their livestock (usually sheep or cattle). These permits are attached to “base property” (typically their home ranch) and can be transferred from one base property to another, or individuals can acquire these privileges by buying the base property. These privileges are routinely renewed, providing the operator (rancher) has complied with BLM rules and regulations. These privileges/preferences are measured in AUMs (animal Unit Months, which is the amount of forage required to feed a full-grown cow and her calf for one month). For example, a rancher with 120 AUM preference on a specific allotment is able to graze 10 cows for a year, or 20 cows for six months. The amount of AUMs a permit may be for depends upon the amount of fora
