“It’s not a complete silver bullet, but nothing is,” says Jay Smith of the J Lazy S Angus Ranch of Carmen. He and his wife Chyenne are using virtual fencing to manage cattle grazing on their Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) permits after the 130,000-acre Moose Fire scorched their USFS grazing allotment in 2022. “I think the proof’s in the pudding when I say we want to keep using it,” he says. “The cost and the work were worth it.”

Exposure to wildfire smoke might elicit an inflammatory response, potentially leading to reduced cattle performance.

The first line of fire defense in many rural areas are Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs). These groups of volunteers, mainly farmers and ranchers, are trained and authorized to respond to fires and help protect 9 million acres of Idaho lands.

When is the best time to graze after a fire? This question seems simple but is quite challenging to answer because there are many factors that contribute to the context.

Fires on farms are very dangerous and scary situations. The best course of action is taking steps to prevent any fires before they start.