Strategic Grazing to Reduce Risk of Wildfire Act

This bill tells the Agriculture and Interior Departments to use livestock grazing as a tool to help prevent wildfires. Within 18 months, they must create a plan that works with ranchers and local partners to target thick grasses and brush that feed fires, including in areas near homes and towns. The plan would look at letting herds graze on vacant areas during droughts or after disasters, using grazing after fires to help recovery, and tackling invasive weeds like cheatgrass that make fires spread faster. It also calls for trying new tech like virtual fencing to move animals where they’re most needed, while avoiding conflicts with other land uses and following land plans . Existing grazing programs are not changed by this bill .

The agencies must consult with states, Tribes, local governments, utilities, firefighting groups, and community organizations. They can use cooperative agreements and build up staff skills to manage these programs. The plan can also recommend targeted grazing as part of the advice given to communities and Tribes working to reduce wildfire risk .

• Who is affected: Ranchers with federal grazing permits; nearby communities; Tribes; state and local agencies; federal land managers on National Forests and other public lands .
• What changes: A new, coordinated strategy to use targeted grazing to cut hazardous fuels, reduce invasive grasses, support post-fire recovery, and use tools like virtual fencing; possible temporary permits for focused fuel reduction efforts; more training and partnerships to carry it out .
• When: The strategy must be developed within 18 months after the bill becomes law .