Farmers Are the Unsung Heroes of the Wildfire Crisis

Farmers and ranchers are on the front lines of California’s wildfire crisis, responding with skill and determination even as policies and resources struggle to keep pace. The research behind this article was shaped by collaboration with the California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN), whose policy expertise and deep engagement with agricultural communities confronting wildfires helped inform its key findings.

Brian Shobe, CalCAN’s Deputy Policy Director, helped shape this work. He consulted on the survey design, provided feedback on research questions, and alongside a broader team of scientist and extension agents, he co-authored a recent study published in California Agriculture examining the essential but often overlooked role of agricultural producers in wildfire response and risk reduction.

This research emerged from discussions in the Wildfires and Agriculture Working Group, where Brian and other co-authors spent a year analyzing policy gaps and identifying strategies to better support farmers and ranchers confronting wildfire risks. That work helped shape the recommendations in this piece—highlighting the need for policies that recognize and invest in the vital role of agricultural producers in disaster response.