Range Management Advisory Committee Educational Series 2023

January – May, 2023

Multiple Dates, Ongoing TBD

Three years ago, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection's Range Management Advisory Committee (RMAC) initiated public educational workshops about the addition of prescribed grazing as a new practice allowed under Cal Fire’s Vegetation Treatment Program for managing vegetation that produce fuel for dangerous wildfires. In previous years’ sessions we have covered the scientific evidence which supports the use of prescribed grazing for management of certain types of fuels, explained basic fuels and fire behavior concepts used by fire professionals and provided examples of projects around the state where grazing was being used for this purpose.

Information about past virtual events can be found here and here, and on the RMAC webpage. 

In collaboration with the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, Cal Poly and Swanton Pacific Ranch are planning this upcoming educational series focusing on the process of planning and funding grazing for the purpose of fuel treatment and wildfire management. While this series is slated to include three webinars and four field workshops in various locations across the state, plans are underway at Cal Poly to continue these trainings throughout the calendar year.

Webinar 1: Developing and Navigating a Grazing Agreement Request for Proposals (RFP)

• February 24th, 2023 at the Stockton Ag Center: 2101 East Earhart Avenue, Stockton, CA
• Application/request for RFP process, including development by agencies and applications by practitioners
• Connecting funding sources to the right organizations, people, places, and time

Webinar 2: Grazing License Agreement

• Grazing planning for fuel reduction, with a special emphasis on state-managed lands: constraints, requirements, and considerations
• How agencies want graziers to utilize the permitting process

Webinar 3: Grazing Prescription for Wildfire Fuel Reduction

• Successfully develop, implement, and monitor a grazing prescription for fuel mitigation 

Field workshops

• Will include on-the-ground examples of successful grazing for fuel reduction, especially where tested by wildfire.
• Four Field Days across California:
  • Targeted Grazing for Fuel Reduction: Case Studies from East Bay Regional Park District – March 16, 2023 – Information and Registration Link HERE
  • Ojai Valley – TBD
  • Paso Robles – TBD
  • San Diego – TBD

The target audience for this series includes CALFIRE staff, state agencies, livestock practitioners with an interest in grazing these lands. The extended audience includes anyone curious about the presence of livestock on state lands and/or those interested in targeted grazing for wildfire risk reduction.

Questions? Contact:

Grey Hayes, Ph.D., Fuels Management Training Program Director, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Dr Kristina Wolf, Environmental Scientist, the Board of Forestry