Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has joined forces with the Montana Department of Agriculture, Montana Department of Livestock, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in opposition to a change in livestock type on seven allotments requested by American Prairie and granted by the BLM in 2022.
Not mentioned in the article by Western Livestock Journal is that American Prairie obtained preference by acquiring base properties tied to the allotments, a customary, legitimate and necessary step in applying for grazing permits on public lands.
Almost certainly the governor acted in response to butthurt ranchers, their overlords, cheerleaders and political allies who see the decision as threat to their domination and control of government agencies and the lands they manage.
The planning area included lands near the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in northern Montana.
RELATED: American Prairie Grazing Decision Finalized.
Western Horse Watchers Association 