Study Shows the Value of Livestock Grazing

A study from the USDA’s ARS confirmed the value of livestock grazing as a tool to protect western rangelands from wildfires.  The Public Lands Council, which represents ranchers who hold federal grazing permits, hailed the research as more proof of the important role livestock grazing plays in protecting our natural resources.

“In a year where wildfire has run rampant across the West, this study is a great reminder that livestock grazing must be an integral part of land management and wildfire mitigation,” said PLC President Mark Roeber. 

The study concluded that grazing supports the reduction of fire fuels that pose huge risks in sagebrush ecosystems that are prone to fire.  By applying targeted grazing in these landscapes, managers can create effective fuel breaks to slow fire activity and improve suppression efforts.  

Kaitlynn Glover, PLC Executive Director, says officials should remain confident in their partnership with public lands ranchers.

Click Here to read the ARS study.

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