2025 Federal Grazing Fee Set at $1.35 per Animal Unit Month

Federal Grazing Fees for 2025 Hold Steady at $1.35 per Unit

WASHINGTON – The federal grazing fee for 2025 remains unchanged at $1.35 per animal unit month for public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and $1.35 per head month for lands overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

For those unfamiliar, an animal unit month or head month represents the usage of public lands by one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month. This fee structure will be implemented starting March 1, 2025, and will affect nearly 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM, alongside approximately 6,250 permits managed by the Forest Service.

The calculation of this grazing fee is based on a formula set by Congress through the 1978 Public Rangelands Improvement Act and maintained via a 1986 presidential Executive Order. This order mandates that the grazing fee cannot dip below $1.35 per unit and any adjustments must not surpass a 25 percent change from the previous year’s rate.

The annually revised grazing fee is anchored to a 1966 base value of $1.23 per animal unit month / head month for livestock grazing on public lands across Western states. The fee is adjusted according to three primary factors: prevailing private grazing land lease rates, beef cattle prices, and the cost of livestock production. Hence, depending on market dynamics, the fee may rise, fall, or remain the same.

Both the BLM and Forest Service prioritize robust partnerships with the ranching community, collaborating with permittees to ensure that public rangelands are maintained as healthy and productive working landscapes. This grazing fee applies across 16 Western states on public lands administered by these agencies.

Permit holders and lessees seeking further information are encouraged to reach out to their local BLM or Forest Service offices.