Eds: APNewsNow.

Bismarck, N.D. (AP) New grazing agreements are taking effect on the Little Missouri National Grasslands in western North Dakota.

The Forest Service says it has reached 10-year agreements with the Medora and McKenzie County grazing associations. The old agreements that had been in place for 20 years expired Monday.

The new agreements were developed after 10 months of negotiations. They lay out the rules that ranchers must follow while grazing their cattle on the federal lands.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-13-09 0530CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list