As ranchers in Arizona, we rent (lease) land from the government. 

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In Yavapai County thirty-eight percent of the land is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, 9% by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, 27% by the State of Arizona, 26% is held privately by individuals or corporations, and less than 0.5% is held in trust as Indian Reservation. 

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The contract ranchers hold with each of these agencies differs, but the basics are all very similar. The rancher pays the agency based on how many cattle are permitted on the land. The rancher is essentially leasing the grass that grows on that land. The rancher is then responsible for the maintenance of the land, the care of the land, the care of the wildlife that calls the land home, the water systems on the land, etc. In exchange, the rancher can raise their cattle on the land. 

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The cattle found on these lands have a symbiotic relationship with the land. Cattle benefit the land by fertilizing the native plants, aerating the soil, capturing carbon, and preventing wildfires. 

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Livestock grazing is used as a tool to lower wildfire risk and reduce the fire's ultimate impact by slowing down how fast the flames spread and how hot the fire burns. They do this by grazing down the annual and perennial grasses, promoting new growth, and leaving far less dead underbrush that acts as kindling to a fire.

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Responsible cattle grazing is a crucial component of managing our lands properly. Grazing promotes new growth of native grasslands and removes dead brush that serves as kindling for fires. 

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You can take precautions to protect your home and property from wildfire as well. Please click on the boxes above to learn how to be firewise, what to do in case of a fire, how cattle lower wildfire risk, and how government agencies are putting us all at risk.