U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Alex Padilla, Mazie Hirono, and James Lankford introduced legislation aimed at promoting research on how grazing can help with wildfire mitigation, fuel reduction, and post-fire recovery.
Several states have launched pilot programs using animals like goats and cattle, known as “ungulates,” to graze on land with highly flammable grasses and shrubs, reducing fire risk. These efforts have shown success in cutting down vegetation that can fuel rapid fire growth. However, there has been limited scientific research on effective grazing land management that also protects the environment.
To fill this 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.
The Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act would:
- Support the research and development of grazing land management techniques for wildfire mitigation and recovery by funding studies at land-grant colleges and universities, including Kansas State University, the University of California system, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and Oklahoma State University.
- Promote the sharing of information on these grazing land management techniques with public and private landowners, land managers, and livestock owners, focusing on practices that prevent environmental harm and enhance soil health.
The legislation is supported by the Kansas Livestock Association.
