Public Lands Council 50th Anniversary

Public Lands Ranching is a big deal and is widely supported across western states.

This week is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Public Lands Council.

Ethan Lane is with the PLC and explains, back in 1968, a group of Western Ranchers got together in Washington DC and decided - they better organize for their own good.

Since 1968, the Public Lands Council (PLC) has actively represented the cattle and sheep producers who hold public lands grazing permits. PLC advocates

for these western ranchers who preserve our nation's natural resources while providing vital food and fiber to the nation and the world. PLC

seeks to educate and inform policy decision makers about public lands ranching to ensure the success and longevity of the industry in the United

States.

Public land ranchers are independent, family-owned businesses that raise cattle and sheep to supply food and clothing to the world. Their work significantly

impacts the economic and social sustainability of America's rural communities and their personal financial investment in maintaining the land

saves taxpayers money. Today, public land ranchers are widely recognized for their work to protect the environment in which they live and operate.

Ranchers and their families not only live and work on the range, they act as stewards of the land through efforts including:

? Preserving clean water sources ? Controlling invasive plants and non-native grasses ? Protecting the habitat for endangered species ? Maintaining firebreaks to actively prevent forest & range fires and act as first responders when a fire occurs ? The Sage Grouse Initiative – a partnership of ranchers, state and federal agencies, universities, nonprofit groups, and businesses that

work together toward the goal of wildlife conservation through sustainable ranching