wildfires

Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council recently testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands.  Their testimony supported legislation to expand the use of livestock grazing as a tool to reduce wildfire risk, make grazing permits more responsive to range conditions, and remove regulatory barriers to maintaining critical infrast

On Tuesday, Governor Tina Kotek called a special session of the Oregon Legislature.  Slated to start Thursday December 12th, the session will allow lawmakers to appropriate funds to pay for the historic 2024 wildfire season.  A record 1.9 million acres bur...

Last week, Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $5,416,405 in Inflation Reduction Act funding, for hazardous fuels transportation projects across the state.  The goal of the federal funding awarded by the U.S. Forest Service is to reduce the risk of wildfires by moving hazardous fuels, such as smaller trees, live or dead brush, tree limbs, and other natural debris, from national fo

Front and Center for the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, disaster assistance and what a federal package should include.  A variety of federal officials testified before senators Wednesday, including Deputy Ag Secretary Xochitl Torres Small.   “...

The Oregon Department of Forest has a new program to increase prescribed and cultural burns.  Some private land owners are reluctant to have controlled burns, because of the risk they could get out of control and the owners would be responsible for the costs.  Jessica...

North Dakota rancher organizations are collecting donations, supplies, and labor to assist ranchers in the northwest part of the state who were devastated by wildfires in October.  An estimated 120,000 acres were burned up by wildfires last month, with high winds of up to 78 miles per hour helping the fires to tear through the region.  Th...

The USDA is issuing payments this week to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters.  The assistance includes $143 million in crop insurance indemnities for Florida producers impacted by Hurricane Milton and over $92 million for livestock producers nationwide who have faced increased supplemental feed costs as a result of forage losses due to 2022 qualifying drought and wildfire events.

Earlier this week, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek sent a letter to President Biden requesting a federal major disaster declaration, following one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in the state’s history.  If approved, the declaration would provide supplemental grants through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program for state, tribal, local governments, and certain private nonprofits.   Those grants...

As the state of Idaho’s population increases, it’s the cities that see the most growth, and many of these people are not familiar with the Ag industry.  Cameron Mulrony, Executive Vice President of the Idaho Cattle Association says it’s important to share with these new Idahoans, and anyone not connected to the farming industry, the important role the cattle sector plays in the Gem state.   “And j

This year has been a challenging one for the Idaho agriculture community for a variety of reasons.  Bryan Serale, President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, said weather and wildfires hurt many producers this year.  But a bigger challenge for commodities of all shapes and sizes, the lack of trade deals, allowing Idaho’s goods to go out on the open market.   "We have perfect...