The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior have signed a joint memo on wildfire preparedness to increase readiness this wildfire season.
This season is expected to be above normal. Secretary Brooke Rollins says that the two departments will provide the resources needed to ensure the Forest Service has the strongest and most prepared firefighting force in the world.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration hopes to merge the government’s wildland fighting efforts into a single agency.
Right now, firefighting efforts are split among five different agencies and two departments. Trump’s plan would combine all of those into a single “Federal Wildland Fire Service,” which would fall under the Interior Department.
The merger would result in the shifting of thousands of personnel from the U.S. Forest Service and to the new agency in the middle of fire season.
Nebraska Cattle Rancher Joe Van Newkirk shares his firsthand insight on devastating wildfires in the Sandhills, discusses challenges facing ranchers, long-term calf health concerns, and the recovery efforts underway.
March 20, 2026 01:53 PM
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Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association President Craig Uden shares the latest on Nebraska wildfire conditions, discusses challenges facing producers, and outlines relief efforts underway.
March 20, 2026 01:21 PM
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March 20, 2026 10:28 AM
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Governor Jim Pillen joined us to share the latest on the Nebraska wildfires, discuss relief efforts, and outline considerations for producers navigating the ongoing situation.
March 19, 2026 12:51 PM
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Nebraska’s largest wildfire on-record has burned 650,000 acres, with three other major fires also burning across the state, destroying pastureland and threatening cattle.
March 18, 2026 12:53 PM
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Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue shares the latest on the wildfires, their impact on agriculture, and the challenges farmers are facing as they navigate both natural disasters and economic uncertainty.
March 17, 2026 11:57 AM
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