Kotek: Our Farmers Need Help After This Fire Season
Oregon’s unprecedented wildfire season has had a big impact on the agricultural community; and it’s still unknown how much federal help is coming. Governor Tina Kotek said the full economic impact of this wildfire season on Oregon’s agriculture community isn’t yet known.
“I’m trying to get out there sooner on these discussions, start collecting the data. It’s very hard to get resources from the federal government until we have some of those numbers.”
She has asked for the Biden Administration to ease grazing rules, but has yet to hear back.
“We have a bunch of ranchers who have cattle with nowhere to go because of the fires there," Kotek said. "What our message to the federal government is, ‘give us all the flexibility that we can possibly have, because this is very unique given the depth of the fire season and the types of sectors that have been impacted.’”
The Oregon Farm Bureau estimates about half of the 1.5 million acres burned so far this year were critical grazing lands.
“It is going to be felt for years, and so we are starting as soon as we can to get more help from the federal government and really understand the overall damage.”
Kotek said she hopes the legislature will discuss how the state can also help the Ag sector recover, during the 2025 session.
The Governor's Office is out with a list of resources to help prodcuers impacted by wildfires this season. This library includes but is not limited to:
- Basic needs support: List of shelters, food pantries, replace SNAP benefits,medical equipment replacement and vital document replacement
- Stay informed: Sign up for OR-Alert to stay tuned for updates and additional resources.
- Returning home: Assess damages to home, vehicles and property, report damages to local county emergency management office, file an insurance claim. Follow guidelines for safe cleanup because ash contains hazardous materials. How to avoid scams when rebuilding.
- Mental Health: Help is available 24/7 to anyone who is struggling or experiencing a crisis. Call 988 for support statewide or visit Lines for Life. AgriStress Hotline serves those in the farming, ranching, fisheries and forestry communities. Call 833-897-2474 or visit their website.
- Agriculture resources:
- OSU Extension Service’s list of resources for those impacted by wildfires in Oregon.
- Wildfire resources for agriculture and livestock producers | OSU Extension Service (oregonstate.edu).
- Methods for mitigating soil erosion after a wildfire | OSU Extension Service (oregonstate.edu).
- Livestock wildfire resources on the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s website.
- Oregon Cattlemen's Association Wildfire Fund Donations page.
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality wildfire resource page.
- USDA Farm Service Agency’s Disaster Assistance Programs and Disaster Assistance Programs At-A-Glance fact sheet.
- USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool.
For additional information about current wildfires, response and recovery, go to Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery. Sign up for OR Alerts to get lifesaving alerts and instructions during emergencies to help you and others stay safe in Oregon.
If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com
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