Last year’s wildfire season was one of the worst in history for Oregon cattle producers.
Nearly 2 million acres burned, and the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association says they are still recovering.
According to Matt McElligott, “People are trying to rebuild fences. There are hundreds and hundreds of miles of fences to rebuild. In some areas, the fire was so hot that the wire literally melted. So, there are contractors on the ground building fences, and they have been for months, and they will for months in the future.”
McElligott says that many producers still feel lost, with some having to sell all of their animals after being burned out of their ranchland.
“People are picking up the pieces and moving forward. They either totally got out of the business, took their cattle and really reduced their numbers so that they could still stay in the business, but in a reduced fashion so that they could protect the range ground and then grow back into it again as the conditions reflect, whether we get good rains or a good snowpack and rebuild that way,” he adds.
March 16, 2026 10:58 AM
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Roger McEowen of Washburn University School of Law joined us to discuss key legal and tax issues ranchers should consider as they recover from recent prairie fires across the Southern Plains.
March 03, 2026 01:06 PM
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Colorado Congressman Jeff Hurd joins Champions of Rural America to share insights into the Western Caucus legislative priorities as they champion wildfire prevention and mitigation in the West.
February 27, 2026 02:35 PM
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Britt Hilton with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau joined us to discuss current conditions, producer impacts, and the road to recovery following the Ranger Road Fire.
February 27, 2026 02:18 PM
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The Ranger Road Fire is fully contained after burning nearly 300,000 acres. Ranchers face significant cattle and fence losses, with recovery efforts underway.
February 26, 2026 01:04 PM
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Michael Kelsey of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association joined us with the latest on the Oklahoma wildfires, recovery efforts for ranchers, and the role agriculture leaders are playing in supporting rural communities.
February 25, 2026 12:13 PM
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