Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act
Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act would amend the 1990 Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act to create a dedicated “Grazing for wildfire mitigation initiative.” This initiative would authorize research and extension grants at land-grant institutions (state universities designated as land-grant schools) to develop ungulate grazing land management techniques intended to reduce wildfire risk, lessen fuel loads, and aid post-fire recovery on both public and private lands. The bill also requires dissemination of findings and educational materials to landowners, managers, and livestock operators. It emphasizes techniques that are compatible with environmental protection (e.g., protecting soil health, water quality, and preventing invasive species spread) and could include practices such as rotational grazing, controlled stocking rates, riparian buffers, fencing (including virtual fencing), and targeted wildlife management, among others. In short, the bill aims to fund and promote science-based grazing practices as a tool for wildfire mitigation and recovery, while ensuring outreach to the land management community and alignment with environmental safeguards.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the Grazing for wildfire mitigation initiative under the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, funded through research and extension grants at land-grant institutions.
- 2Defines key terms:
- 3- Land-grant institution: includes 1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions (as defined by relevant law).
- 4- Ungulate: hooved grazing mammal.
- 5Purpose of grants:
- 6- Research and development of ungulate grazing land management techniques that promote wildfire mitigation, fuel reduction, and post-fire recovery on public and private land.
- 7- Includes research on the economic benefits of these practices and ways to increase social support for them.
- 8- Ensure compatibility with environmental safeguards (e.g., preventing invasive species spread, disease, soil erosion, and watershed degradation).
- 9Extension and outreach: Grants to disseminate information to public/private landowners and land managers, including educational materials and outreach programs about grazing practices and compatible activities.
- 10Demonstrated techniques (examples listed): rotational grazing, managed stocking rates, riparian buffer zones, cover crops, fencing (including virtual fencing), manipulation of wild ungulate populations through targeted wildlife management, water point management, and overall soil health improvement.