Canadian wildfires helped the Public Lands Council better advocate for U.S. producers

The haze from the Canadian wildfires is clearing out here in the U.S., but not before helping the Public Lands Council better advocate for farmers and ranchers in D.C.

“Even though they weren’t American wildfires, it gave us a really good opportunity to talk about why this sort of ongoing discussion about whether it’s forest management or whether it’s climate change or whether it’s something else,” says Kaitlynn Glover, the Executive Director for PLC and NCBA. “The bottom line is that something needs to be done and there’s a lot of bipartisan agreement on certain pieces. It gave us a really great opportunity to talk about reduced forage or reduced fuel, right? The role that grazing can play in reducing that wildfire risk and even making sure that good fire doesn’t become bad fire across those millions of acres across the West.”

Glover said sadly wildfires are always going to be a harsh reality our producers have to face, especially until we have more durable fixes.

Related Stories
UNL Extension’s Troy Walz discusses the Nebraska Ranch Practicum, where sessions are held, how producers can get involved, and what ranchers can gain from participating in the program.
The Ranger Road Fire in the Oklahoma Panhandle is now 65% contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres over the past week. Kevin Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance Agency discusses wildfire recovery, livestock insurance considerations, and the importance of preparedness for producers across the Southern Plains.
Ag leaders say President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is unlikely to spark major agriculture headlines, but ongoing tariff uncertainty and trade policy remain key concerns, as does the debate around glyphosate and the status of the next Farm Bill.
Cotton jassid, a invasive pest, is raising concerns for Southeast cotton growers as experts work to understand its impact this season.
Border closures tied to the threat of New World Screwworm continue to stall Mexican fed cattle imports, tightening U.S. feeder cattle supplies over time — triggering feedlot closures that hinder herd rebuilding efforts, threaten the beef supply chain, and shrink production while consumer prices stay elevated.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE) recently elected Bill Newsom, of Tennessee, as the organization’s new president.
As we start the new year, let’s take a look at some of the legislative items from 2023 affecting agriculture that will continue to play out in the political area for months to come.
Researchers out of the United Kingdom are using gene editing technology to help make High-Path Avian Flu less of a threat to poultry.