Fire in sagebrush rangeland in eastern Oregon (Photo credit: Kirk Davies)

Reducing Wildfire Threats in the West 

ARS researchers are providing ranchers and land managers with multiple options for reducing the incidence and severity of wildfires. Rangeland megafires are becoming more frequent in the western United States, often due to invading, highly flammable annual grass species like cheatgrass, which alone dominates an area equivalent to the state of Idaho. Management tools are critically needed to combat these grasses and reduce large wildfires that threaten human lives, livestock, and property.  Learn more...

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.