Calif. beef industry seeks focus on fire resiliencyCalif. beef industry seeks focus on fire resiliency

Cattlemen’s association has championed legislation to speed up large-scale prescribed fires, use targeted grazing to curb spread of wildfires.

Tim Hearden, Western Farm Press

January 14, 2025

3 Min Read
Cattle at a watering hole
Rancher Tony Toso’s cattle gather at a watering hole after a wildfire in Mariposa County, Calif., in 2017. The California Cattlemen’s Association has championed legislation in recent years to increase the use of grazing and prescribed fire to curb the spread of wildfires.Tony Toso

California’s largest cattlemen’s group has been pushing for several years to beef up such fire-resiliency efforts as prescribed burns and targeted grazing, and the efforts may take on an increased urgency in the wake of the Los Angeles area wildfires.

Since 2021, the California Cattlemen’s Association has helped secure more than $120 million in state funding for such fire prevention efforts as wildland grazing, a prescribed fire claims fund and various forest health initiatives.

The organization is still finalizing its legislative agenda for 2025, but is likely to keep “chipping away” at laws and regulations that have stifled prescribed fires, noted Kirk Wilbur, the CCA’s vice president of government affairs.

“Particularly with what we’ve got going on in Los Angeles County right now, you’re probably going to see a continued push” by CCA and other groups, Wilbur told Farm Press. “I think you’re going to see a lot more progress this year on wildfire resiliency, including prescribed burns, especially given what’s happening right now. I think there’s going to be a real willingness and a passion for some of these issues on the legislative front.”

Fires across the Los Angeles area had killed at least 24 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and incinerated more than 60 square miles as of Jan. 13, according to CBS News. More than 150,000 people in LA County are under evacuation orders as more high winds were expected today and Wednesday, Jan. 14-15, the network reported.

Insurance concerns

As of Jan. 10, the CCA was unaware of any commercial ranch land or grazing allotments affected by the fires, Wilbur said. However, some members have expressed concern about insurance rates, he said.

“I think there’s going to be a lot more effort to stabilize insurance,” Wilbur said.

He noted Assembly Bill 226 by Democratic state Assembly members Lisa Calderon of Whittier and Davis Alvarez of San Diego, which would issue catastrophe bonds and help finance the cost of insurance claims under California’s Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas announced plans for the bill on Jan. 9 at the state Capitol.

“The most important question for us right now is, ‘How can we help?’” Rivas told reporters. “Our Assembly plans to advance legislation to support recovery efforts, including a bill focused on insurance claims for homeowners.”

Alvarez added his effort is likely “among many we must take” to stabilize California’s insurance market.

Wildfire prevention

In the wildfire prevention arena, the CCA has helped push through numerous bills in the last few years to increase fire resiliency. Among the organization’s successes:

  • Securing $20 million in state funding in 2021 for a Prescribed Fire Claims Fund to help shield prescribed burners from liability, and sponsoring legislation to immunize prescribed burners from state cost recovery.

  • Getting $80 million in the 2022-23 state budget for grants that can be used for “prescribed wildland grazing” and to fund “prescribed grazing infrastructure.” More funding for grazing was provided in the 2023-24 budget.

  • Advancing a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024 that streamlines the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s contracting ability to speed up large-scale prescribed fires.

The CCA in 2021 also sponsored legislation that created an “Ag Pass” to allow ranchers onto their land during wildfires to move livestock out of harm’s way and make sure they have feed and water.

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