Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Resource Management Plan Revision

FACT SHEET: Livestock Grazing and Rangeland Health

Program Contact: Dustin Crowe, Rangeland Management Specialist (406) 896-5154

Livestock Grazing

The Billings Field Office is responsible for administering livestock on BLM-administered 

surface across the planning area. These BLM-administered lands are usually intermingled with 

private and state lands, which are grazed as one unit. Grazing allotments range in size from 21

acres to 34,174 acres with the average allotment size being approximately 3,675 acres. 

The Billings Field Office administers 370 grazing allotments on approximately 387,057 acres of

BLM administered surface and 62,619 animal unit months (AUMs) with 7,746 AUMs in 

suspension. There are 310 grazing authorizations for these allotments. Three hundred of the 

authorizations are for cattle grazing, seven authorizations are for horse/burro grazing, and three 

authorizations are for sheep grazing. Total permitted numbers change frequently due to 

conversions of the class of livestock and changes in allotment or livestock management. 

This table summarizes the acres available, permitted, and closed to livestock grazing

Livestock Grazing

Alternative A

(No Action) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D(Preferred)

Total acres 

available to 

livestock grazing

434,154 acres

Isolated parcels not 

included within 

grazing allotments

9,522 acres

Total acres 

permitted for 

livestock grazing

387,057 acres 386,092 acres 386,822 acres 387,057 acres

Total acres closed 

to permitted 

livestock use for the 

life of the plan

37,408 acres 38,373 acres 28,622 acres 28,387 acres

Total acres 

available for 

prescriptive use of 

livestock grazing

0 0 9,021 acres
Rangeland Health

In 1997, the Montana/Dakotas BLM State Director approved the Montana/Dakotas Standards 

for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management (Standards). BLM 

lands in the Billings Field Office must conform to the Miles City Standards for Rangeland 

Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management. (Note: The BiFO was included in 

the Miles City District when the standards and guidelines were developed in 1997.) The Miles 

City Standards for Rangeland Heath are described below:

 Standard 1: Uplands are in Proper Functioning Condition (PFC)

 Standard 2: Riparian areas and wetlands are in PFC

 Standard 3: Water Quality meets Montana State standards

 Standard 4: Air quality meets Montana State standards

 Standard 5: Habitats are provided for healthy, productive, and diverse native plant and 

animal populations and communities. Habitats are improved or maintained for special 

status species (federally threatened, endangered, candidate, or Montana species of special 

concern as defined in BLM Manual 6840, Special Status Species Management).

If Standards for Rangeland Health are not met and livestock grazing is determined to be the 

causal factor, regulation directs the authorized officer to implement actions (e.g., permit 

modifications, range improvements) prior to the next grazing season that will move the allotment 

towards meeting the Standards for Rangeland Health (43 CFR 4180). Permit modifications 

include changing season of use, changing type of livestock, and addressing carrying capacity. 

Rangeland Conditions in the Billings Field Office 

 83% of the allotments assessed (309,658 acres) meet the Standards for Rangeland Health

 9.1% of the allotments assessed (41,153 acres) are making significant progress toward 

meeting the Standards for Rangeland Health

 11 allotments (3,835 acres) are not meeting Standards for Rangeland Health or are not 

making significant progress towards meeting these Standards (with livestock having been 

determined as the causal factor for 9 of the allotments). 

o 8 allotment s (3,675 acres)– changes have been implemented 

o 2 allotments (80 acres) – not meeting Standards due to causes other than livestock 

grazing

o 1 allotment (80 acres) – not meeting Standards and no changes have been made 

(expired grazing permit)

 16 allotments (6,835 acres) - no assessment has yet been completed

Rangeland Monitoring

The BLM, Billings Field Office conducts rangeland monitoring to ensure compliance with the 

Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health (or progress toward meeting these standards) or 

allotment management plan objectives. If monitoring indicates that progress is occurring, or 

standards and objectives are being met, current livestock management continues. However, if 

monitoring data demonstrate that livestock use on an allotment no longer meets rangeland health 

standards, management adjustments are required to be made prior to the start of the next grazing 

season. Adjustments are made by agreement or decision through consultation, cooperation, and 

coordination with permittees and the interested public in accordance with legislation, regulation, 

and policy.