NCBA says the new Interior Department’s Deputy Secretary brings new certainty to rangelands

Ag groups are applauding the Senate’s confirmation of Kate MacGregor as Deputy Secretary of the Interior.

She is returning to the role after previously serving in the first Trump Administration. They say that her experience and understanding of land management issues could help shape future policy. The Public Lands Council points to MacGregor’s knowledge of how grazing reduces wildfire risk and her support for balanced range management.

“She’s coming into this position knowing that grazing reduces the risk of wildfire by 45 to 80 percent. She knows that more than two-thirds of western livestock spend time grazing on federal lands. She knows how to manage that complex multiple-use profile and what a careful hand it takes to keep that balance,” said NCBA’s Kaitlynn Glover.

The Public Lands Council says MacGregor’s confirmation will help move key policies forward, including grazing reform and clarity over the Endangered Species Act.

Related Stories
The EPA proposal laid out two options: fully reallocate all exempted volumes to the 2026–2027 standards, or reallocate half.
The Fertilizer Research Act, reintroduced by Sens. Grassley, Ernst, and Baldwin, would direct the USDA to study and publish public reports on competition and pricing trends in the fertilizer market.
U.S. aquaculture may gain competitive ground as harmful subsidies are phased out abroad, but producers should monitor shifts in import supply chains and trade enforcement closely.
Producers may need to prepare for margin pressure in livestock feeding, while dairy farmers could benefit from stronger product demand.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new memorandum to modernize and strengthen America’s wildfire prevention and response system.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

RFD-TV farm legal and taxation expert, Roger McOwen, joins us with his perspective on what farmers can expect from the delayed aid package.
Microsoft’s partnership with the National FFA Organization is helping future ag leaders gain the tools they need to drive innovation in farming and beyond.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to share why Ames is uniquely positioned to support expanded USDA operations.
Iowa land values dropped 3% year-over-year. Sen. Chuck Grassley said this discomforting pattern is a harbinger of crisis for farmers, as seen in the 1980s.
Prepare for tighter cash flow, delayed capital buys, and policy-driven risk management this fall.