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Policy on Range

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C. 20250

Departmental Regulation

Number: 9500-5
Subject: Policy on Range
Date: December 15, 1983
OPI: Natural Resources Conservation Service
 

  1. Purpose

    The Nation's range resource includes about half the land are in the contiguous 48 states and large areas in Alaska and Hawaii. The USDA manages more than 120 million acres of publicly-owned range, and USDA programs influence the use and management of other Federal and 414 million acres of nonfederal range.

    Rangelands provide the principal source of forage for the cattle and sheep operations on thousands of American farms and ranches. As human populations increase and demand for food and energy expands, the need for forage and the other range resources will increase.

    In addition to supplying livestock forage, ranges provide water, recreation, wildlife and fish habitat and cover, as well as minerals and archeological, historical, and cultural amenities.

    This regulation sets forth Departmental policy relating to range resources and coordination of range activities among agencies of the USDA and other executive agencies, organizations, and individuals. It is in furtherance of USDA responsibilities mandated by the legislation identified in Section 6a. Agencies of the Department affected by this regulation include APHIS, ARS, CSREES, ERS, FS, FAS, FSA, NASS and NRCS.

     
  2. Cancellations

    This regulation cancels and replaces Secretary's Memorandum No. 9500-4 dated November 30, 1982, "Policy on Range."

     
  3. Policy

    It is USDA policy to implement progress to:

     
    1. Protect and enhance range ecosystems.

       
    2. Improve the productivity of soil, water, plant, livestock and wildlife resources of the Nation's rangelands.

       
    3. Contribute to the social and economic well being of people and communities that depend on range for their livelihoods.

       
    4. Support and strengthen national and international cooperation designed to improve range condition and productivity.

       
    5. Provide continuing research and technology developments to enhance range conservation and productivity and to make optimum use of all range resources.

       
    6. Provide continuing education and other technology transfer programs that improve livestock production on rangeland in balance with watershed management, wildlife and fish habitat, and other uses.

       
    7. Emphasize cooperation and coordination among Federal, State, and local agencies; private organizations and institutions; and individuals in planning and executing range programs to benefit the Department's range constituency and to prevent duplication and overlap of duties in reaching interagency goals affecting range.

       
    8. Provide technical, managerial, education, and other assistance programs for range owners, operators, and other users that will encourage the adoption and use of conservation practices that protect and enhance range resources.

       
    9. Provide periodic inventories of the Nation's range resources that are useful to rangeland users, that are compatible among agencies, that are based upon sound economical and ecological principles, contain data which identify multiple-use opportunities, and are useful for protecting and enhancing range resources at the local, regional, and national levels.

       
    10. Manage the range resources of the National Forest System in an economically and ecologically sound manner, for multiple use, and for development and demonstration of effective range management.

       
  4. Abbreviations

     
    USDA   U.S. Department of Agriculture
    NR&E   Natural Resources and Environment
    FS   Forest Service
    NRCS   Natural Resources Conservation Service
    APHIS   Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    FSA   Farm Service Agency
    ARS   Agricultural Research Service
    CSREES   Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
    ERS   Economic Research Service
    NASS   National Agricultural Statistics Service
    FAS   Foreign Agricultural Service



     

  5. Definitions

     
    1. Range embraces rangelands and also many forest lands which support an understory or periodic cover of herbaceous or shrubby vegetation amenable to certain range management principles or practices.

       
    2. Rangeland is land on which the native vegetation (climax or natural potential) is predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing use. Rangelands include natural grassland, savannas, most deserts, tundra, alpine plant communities, coastal marshes, wet meadows and introduced plant communities managed like rangeland.

       
  6. Responsibilities

     
    1. Plans of action to implement the policies of this regulation will be developed by affected agencies and will be subject to review by the NR&E Committee of the Secretary's Policy and Coordination Council. These plans will be prepared in accordance with directions of the Forest and Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, as amended (PL 93-378); the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 (PL 95-192); the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 (PL 95-306); Subtitle M Rangeland Research of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981; the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (PL 95-514); and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (PL 94-579).

       
    2. The NR&E Committee will provide Department leadership and will establish a Range Issues Working Group to help implement its range responsibilities.

       
    3. The NR&E Committee will:

       
      (1) Coordinate the range policies of affected USDA agencies.
      (2) Provide a forum for formulating and assessing alternative range policies and procedures to serve the missions of the various agencies within USDA and those of other executive agencies better.
      (3) Encourage and assist USDA agencies to develop liaison, as needed, with other executive agencies, public interest organizations, and professional societies.
      (4) Coordinate with the Rangeland Research Board established by the Secretary pursuant to Subtitle M of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 and assist the Secretary in carrying out the purpose of this legislation.
      (5) Provide the Secretary an annual status report of range issues under consideration, opportunities for improvement, and progress toward resolution.



       

    4. Agency Compliance

       
      (1) Each agency of USDA will maintain its policies and program direction in compliance with this regulation. Agency heads will assure that current range program activities are delineated and that range programs of each agency are known to the NR&E Committee.
      (2) Rules, regulations, and other directives are to be written or revised as necessary to comply with this regulation.



     

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