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.
Rising production underscores the importance of marketing discipline and margin protection as milk supplies expand.
December 23, 2025 04:09 PM
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Jake Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance shares risk-reduction strategies to help cattle producers prepare for a successful year ahead.
December 23, 2025 01:45 PM
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Oregon FFA CEO Kjer Kizer discusses the proposed budget reductions, potential consequences, and the importance of protecting learning opportunities for students interested in agriculture.
December 23, 2025 01:34 PM
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RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney explains why the 2026 USMCA review could directly affect dairy access, produce competition, and export reliability for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
December 23, 2025 01:04 PM
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The report shows that, despite production challenges, dairy farmers are producing more milk with fewer resources per gallon across the industry.
December 23, 2025 12:45 PM
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Producers across the country balanced winter weather disruptions, shifting export demand, and tightening margins as year-end decisions come into focus.
December 22, 2025 03:50 PM
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