850,000 Acres and Growing: How the Smokehouse Creek Fire is impacting agriculture

Texas is currently facing its second largest wildfire in history, and farmers and ranchers are scrambling to protect their operations.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire broke out Monday and has now scorched more than 850,000 acres of land, already surpassing the total acreage affected in all of the Lone Star State last year. Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, has issued a disaster declaration for the state.

Turkey Track Ranch in Stinnett encompasses 80,000 acres and they had to cut down fences and let cattle run, as shown in this video from Katlyn Butler. They are unsure of how many will be lost. The flames spread so quickly due to the dry, warm and windy conditions that dominated the Texas Panhandle earlier this week.

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, Sid Miller, shares he is deeply concerned about the wildfires.

“These fires not only threaten lives and property but also have a significant impact on ag. We stand in solidarity with our farmers and ranchers facing loss and destruction. Our thoughts are with them during this challenging time, and we’re committed to supporting their recovery efforts every step of the way.”
Sid Miller, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture
Related Stories
The California Farm Bureau introduces us to Aussie, its 2024 Farm Dog of the Year! Aussie’s proved nothing—not even the loss of a limb—can stop her from protecting her farm and family.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Cattle producers recently promoted U.S. beef on a trip to Japan and Korea with the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
After years of drought, farmers across U.S. farm country are getting so much rainfall that it’s dampening their spring planting progress later into the season.
According to USDA experts, Brazil and Argentina’s large drop in corn production has more to do with the economics of corn markets than impacts from weather.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, no part of Iowa is experiencing extreme levels of drought for the first time in nearly two years.