SE Kansas News

U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Alex Padilla, Mazie Hirono, and James Lankford have introduced a new bill aimed at promoting research on the use of grazing for wildfire mitigation. The legislation seeks to explore how grazing by animals such as goats and cattle can help in reducing fire risks, managing fuels, and aiding post-fire recovery.

Some states have already initiated pilot programs where these animals graze on designated areas filled with flammable vegetation. These efforts have shown promise in decreasing the amount of vegetation that can contribute to rapid fire spread. However, there is limited scientific research available on optimal grazing techniques that also prevent other environmental issues.

To bridge this research gap, the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act proposes adding the "Grazing for Wildfire Mitigation Initiative" to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's High-Priority Research List.

Senator Moran stated: “Using grazing as a way to reduce wildfires is both beneficial to our ranchers and important to eliminating the grasses that accelerate fires on the prairie.” He emphasized that Kansans have faced severe wildfires recently and understand the need for proactive measures.

Senator Padilla added: “As devastating wildfires pose increasingly severe threats to our communities, we need to explore out-of-the-box approaches to blunt these disasters.” He noted that grazing has been effective in reducing hazardous brush fueling wildfires.

Senator Hirono highlighted the importance of preemptive action: “As wildfires occur with increasing frequency across the country, this legislation is a crucial step to help strengthen community resilience.”

The Kansas Livestock Association supports this legislation. Additionally, The Nature Conservancy expressed approval: “The Nature Conservancy welcomes this bill as a jump start for the utilization of grazing as a tool for wildfire risk reduction.”

The bill aims to support research at land-grant colleges like Kansas State University and others while promoting information dissemination about wildlife grazing management techniques.