Cliff Bentz proposes expanding cattle grazing to reduce wildfires

U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz is developing legislation to expand cattle grazing on public lands in an effort to mitigate the severity of wildfires. Bentz, who represents much of eastern Oregon, argues that more intensive grazing can reduce the accumulation of grass and other fuels that drive major range fires.

The proposal is informed by experiments in southern Malheur County, which suggested that grazing can assist in creating firebreaks. This comes as wildfires have burned over 2 million acres of rangeland and forest in Oregon this summer. Bentz noted that drought, low humidity, and high temperatures have exacerbated the risk, contributing to significant blazes such as the 79,000-acre Fox Fire in Baker County.

Bentz plans to introduce the bill later this year and is hosting several public meetings across Oregon during the August congressional recess to discuss wildfire management.