PERC’s Travis Brammer argues that ranching is facing a generational squeeze, with aging landowners, shrinking margins, and fewer young producers willing to take on the physical and financial strain of running working lands. As hundreds of millions of acres are expected to change hands in the coming decades, he warns that keeping ranches economically viable is essential to preventing subdivision and protecting wildlife habitat and open space.

• He points to virtual fencing as a practical, conservation-friendly innovation that reduces labor, increases flexibility, and helps ranchers manage livestock more efficiently without fragmenting habitat with permanent barriers. By lowering operational headaches and integrating modern technology into land stewardship, Brammer contends the tool can help make ranching sustainable for the next generation while delivering tangible environmental benefits.