A University of California (UC) study found that 58% of California ranchers impacted by wildfires did not utilize USDA disaster assistance, underscoring the need for better outreach and education. Researchers urge lawmakers to prioritize wildfire preparedness and recovery programs tailored to ranchers in the 2024 Farm Bill.
Wildfires have severely impacted California ranchers, with 80% reporting business disruptions such as property access issues, missed workdays and market closures. Additionally, 66% of respondents reported significant financial instability, 57% suffered losses in pasture or hay production, and 55% experienced damage to ranch infrastructure, including fencing and watering systems.
“Unfortunately, catastrophic fires continue to impact families, communities, businesses, farmers and ranchers,” said Leslie Roche, UC Davis professor of Cooperative Extension in rangeland management. “Project results show how the farm bill helps ranchers in rebuilding after fire and highlights opportunities for the next farm bill to better support livestock producers with rebuilding their businesses and restoring their lands post-fire.”
In addition to a majority not utilizing disaster assistance, the survey of 116 California ranchers found that 48% did not use any USDA programs, including disaster assistance or crop insurance.
The survey revealed that only 39% of California ranchers used forage, livestock or ranch insurance, while 46% did not utilize any form of insurance or USDA programs, including 60% of first-generation ranchers. Notably, 62% of first-generation ranchers reported that they did not qualify for USDA disaster assistance, compared to just 22% of multi-generational ranchers, highlighting disparities in program access.
To recover from wildfires, ranchers primarily relied on personal savings (67%), USDA disaster assistance programs (42%), business savings (39%) and private insurance (32%). The survey results emphasize the importance of thoroughly understanding the opportunities and challenges within farm bill disaster recovery programs.
To address this, one key recommendation from the brief is to “elevate technical assistance, outreach, and research by investing in USDA agency collaborations with local organizations (e.g., Cooperative Extension) to raise awareness, expand access to assistance programs, and provide science-based solutions for wildfire recovery.”
Researchers recommend several priorities for the next farm bill to strengthen conservation, disaster management, and outreach programs.
First, they suggest enhancing the Environmental Quality Incentive Program by adding flexibility for wildfire risk reduction through grazing, including cost-sharing for essential infrastructure like perimeter fencing in ecosystems where it benefits fire prevention. They also call for permanent investment in the Emergency Conservation Program to support wildfire recovery, such as debris removal and rangeland restoration, with funding provided within 90 days of any wildfire event.
Another recommendation is establishing permanent funding for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program and expanding its scope to address wildfire-induced losses and natural resource problems.
The researchers also recommend adjusting future disaster claim limits for inflation and applying them to individual events. They advocate for increasing technical support staff to speed up wildfire recovery efforts and provide assistance with education and application processes.
Lastly, the researchers emphasize the need to prioritize physical and mental health during disaster recovery, as 82% of respondents reported negative impacts from wildfires. They recommend investing in training staff and partner organizations in trauma-informed approaches to better support farmers and ranchers affected by disasters.
Natalia Pinzón Jiménez, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis who led the project, explained that witnessing farmers and ranchers struggle to prepare for and recover from wildfires motivated her to pursue the study. She saw the research as an opportunity to highlight the impacts and response strategies used by agricultural communities facing wildfire challenges. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
