What We Do

Conservation Easements
Founded in December of 2000, the Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust holds 46 conservation easements on 110,187 acres of ranchland.  Additional conservation easements are being negotiated throughout the state. To learn more about conservation easements click here.

Partnership of Rangeland Trusts
Our Land Trust has been instrumental in forming the Partnership of Rangeland Trusts (PORT), a group of agricultural-focused state associations. Only one statewide land trust is eligible for PORT membership and we are proud to serve in this role. For more information visit www.maintaintherange.com.

Local Partnerships
We build relationships with other land trusts, state agencies, interest groups, and private funders to obtain funding and complete projects which meet the goal of conserving Wyoming ranchland and open spaces for future generations. Our Land Trust also has three local chapters: the Carbon County Chapter, the Absaroka Beartooth Chapter and the Star Valley Chapter.

Landowners
The Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust works to ensure that Wyoming's farms and ranches continue to be viable for agricultural production. By conserving Wyoming farms and ranches we also conserve the history, culture and economy of Wyoming.

Publications
Maintaining the Range, a biannual publication that details projects, events, and news of our Land Trust
Home On The Range, a monthly e-newsletter
Quarterly column in the Wyoming Stock Growers Association’s CowCountry magazine

The Benefits of an Ag Land Trust in Wyoming

Why We Conserve Ag Land

 

 

The Benefits of an Agricultural Land Trust in Wyoming

Wyoming is known throughout the world for its open spaces, abundant wildlife, scenic beauty and ranching heritage.  Ranches occupy the most agriculturally productive lands in the state and are critical to Wyoming’s wildlife through their location along valleys and waterways that frequently serve as winter range, birthing sites and travel corridors.  These contributions of ranchlands extend far beyond the borders of ranches themselves due to the fragmented and intertwined nature of public and private land ownership within the state.


Eshelman Basin Ranch Easement

However, in many areas of Wyoming, ranches and ranchland are disappearing. Studies have predicted that 48 million people will be added to the West by 2050, resulting in 26 million acres of open space being converted to residential and commercial development. Of the 11 western states, Wyoming is expected to have the third highest growth rate.  These pressures for land conversions are compounded by low profit margins from ranching, the increasing average age of ranchers, a lack of recruitment of new individuals into the profession and high inheritance taxes. As the land becomes fragmented, the wildlife habitat, watersheds and scenic splendor sustained by Wyoming ranches for generations are being swept away forever.

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Why We Conserve Ranchland

    • 42% of Wyoming is privately owned.  90% of the state’s private land base is in agriculture.

    • Agriculture is the third leading industry in the state, generating $1.5 billion annually in economic revenue.  These dollars have a compounding positive affect for communities by supporting local businesses such as implement dealers, veterinarian services, hardware and feed stores. 

    • 50% of the winter habitat for Wyoming’s major big game species is on private land. 

    • Ranchland fragmentation has been identified as one of the top four threats to the future integrity of the West’s public lands.

    • Nationally, 70% of threatened and endangered species spend some portion of their life on private land, 37% are completely dependent upon private land for their survival. 

    • Development and fragmentation of rangelands affect water quality and quantity through increased siltation, runoff, and pollution, reducing filtration.

    • Agriculture lands in Wyoming require an average $0.54 in public services (fire and police protection, roads, busing to area schools etc.) for every dollar of property tax revenue they generate.  In comparison, rural residential development requires $2.01 in public services for every tax dollar produced.

    • Studies have predicted that 48 million people will be added to the West by 2050, resulting in 26 million acres of open space being converted to residential and commercial development.  Of the eleven western states, Wyoming is expected to have the third highest growth rate.

    • Wyoming ranks eleventh nationally in terms of the percent of housing units that are second homes.  Among the neighboring states, Wyoming is second only to Montana in the rate of second home construction.

    • In the United States, between 1982-2001, 33.5 million acres of land (an area the size of North Carolina), have been converted to development, of which 9.8 million acres (about the size of Maryland and Delaware) were rangelands.

    • Experts predict 50% and 75% of ranches in the West will change hands in the next 10 to 15 years.

    • Polls have shown that the loss of working family farms and ranches is Wyoming voter’s number one conservation concern.

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