On February 13, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mazie Hirono (D-HI, and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act (S. 602), bipartisan legislation to promote research on how grazing can support wildfire mitigation, fuels reduction, and post-fire recovery. (View One-Pager Here)
Several states have implemented pilot programs in which animals like goats and cattle, called “ungulates,” have grazed on prescribed areas of land containing highly flammable grasses and shrubs to mitigate fire risk. These pilot efforts have successfully reduced vegetation that can fuel rapid fire growth. However, limited scientific research has been conducted on optimal grazing land management techniques that also protect against other environmental harms. To address this critical research gap, the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act would add the “Grazing for Wildfire Mitigation Initiative” to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s High-Priority Research List.
This measure is a companion bill to the Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act (H.R. 1110), sponsored by Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-Butte County). H.R. 1110 would require the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and implement a strategy to expand the use of livestock grazing to reduce wildfire risk. The measure passed out of mark-up in the Committee on Natural Resources on February 12.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton.