Wildfires Destroying California Pastures
The California wildfires are yet another blow to the state's livestock industry…which is grappling with a drought. So far, the fires have scorched more than 630,000 acres -- much of it pasture and rangeland. That means the plants that ranchers were relying on to provide food for their animals has been destroyed.
Mel George is a rangeland specialist with UC Davis. He says it'll take at least three years of average rainfall to restore the burned land.
George: But you have to remember that we're also in a drought. And so there are some areas that just didn't grow very much that may not be damaged at the level that we would have normally occurred.
George says the fires may force ranchers to cut their herds, rent grazing land that didn't burn or buy hay, which is already expensive because of the drought.
