Many of the largest are grazing associations in the Dakotas, Wyoming and Colorado, made up of family ranchers. Others are corporate entities such as Idaho billionaire J.R. Simplot, media mogul Ted Turner or Hunt Oil Co. of Dallas. Large corporations and millionaires benefit the most from subsidies. The top 10 percent of grazing-permit holders on Bureau of Land Management property control 65 percent of all livestock. Big operators do more damage to public land.
Some executives use ranches to meet with major clients.
Companies also buy ranches for water or mineral rights, and raise beef to offset expenses. Others are simply in the beef business. Defenders say it doesn't matter if corporations dominate public land. And, some contend, it would threaten rural banks that carry loans pegged to ranchers' grazing permits. The red ink runs deep, however, to keep cows on the public's range.