The New Year is here, but in Oregon, some ranchers and livestock producers are still trying to recover from record wildfires back in 2024. Matt McCelligott, past president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, said those wildfires left a devastating legacy.
“When it does burn, it does go through forest land and also goes through open rangeland,” McCelligott said. “But all of it is rangeland, quite frankly, and when it burns, then it creates such damage to the environment that we can’t, as an industry, graze cattle or sheep or any other livestock on that for a couple of years, unless the conditions are just exceptional, and usually they aren’t.”
McElligott says wildfires can burn so hot that they destroy any seed bank in the soil, inhibiting future growth. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association has launched a fund to assist ranchers affected by wildfires across the state.
September 10, 2025 02:23 PM
Mother-daughter RanchHER duo, Lyn and Sherrie Ray, joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report for a sneak peek at tonight’s brand new episode of FarmHER + RanchHER.
September 10, 2025 01:45 PM
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The 2022 Census of Agriculture revealed a more than 30% decrease in U.S. dairy farms since 2017. The shrinking industry is now uniting to advocate for itself while also adopting technology to reduce operational strain.
September 10, 2025 12:55 PM
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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was once again on the national stage, front and center this week before the House Agriculture Committee.
September 10, 2025 11:10 AM
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September 10, 2025 10:07 AM
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Labor is an ongoing crisis in the ag sector. One industry group outlines three vital reforms to the H-2A visa program that farmers need to secure an affordable, stable workforce.
September 09, 2025 12:22 PM
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Experts estimate the flooding from Hurricane Helene caused more than $1.3 billion in damage to Tennessee agriculture.
September 09, 2025 11:30 AM
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Keir Albert of Albert Acres Cattle Company joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to share his journey into raising Texas Longhorn cattle and the reason behind his trip to Kenya.
September 08, 2025 01:29 PM
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As the Trump Administration seeks out new global trade partnerships, Congress is considering more support for farmers, which comes as the Federal Reserve warns that farmers need a safety net.
September 08, 2025 11:47 AM
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