Wildfires in Canada have burned nearly 6.5 million acres of land and forced thousands of evacuations. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the smoke is now impacting conditions here in the United States.
“Some of that smoke has been at ground level and has resulted in significant degradations in air quality, very thick, heavy haze, and some visibility reductions,” Rippey said on a call with media this week. “And so [that could affect] folks with sensitivity to particulate matter, as that has been a problem for several days across the north-central United States. Now with that cold front moving in, that is helping to push that smoke east, most of it aloft. But at the same time, for example, Tuesday morning we are seeing quite a ribbon of smoke extending from around Lake Superior, southwestward into eastern Nebraska, along with and ahead of that cold front.”
Rippey says a cold front will keep moving east and hopefully clear some of the smoke. However, he did say the smoke also caused some very bright sunrises and sunsets across much of the U.S. this week.
Firefighters are making good progress on two major wildfires burning across parts of Nebraska.
March 30, 2026 01:16 PM
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RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney discusses Canada’s new soil health strategy, its implications for producers, and its potential to support sustainable agriculture in Canada compared to USDA funding for conservation.
March 27, 2026 03:15 PM
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Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Michael Kelsey joined us to discuss wildfire impacts across the Southern Plains, the importance of community support, and the path forward for affected producers.
March 27, 2026 11:40 AM
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After devastating wildfires swept through Nebraska, Sen. Deb Fischer is championing a bill to expedite the relief process for farmers and ranchers. She joins us with updates on recovery efforts, conditions on the ground, and how the ag community has stepped up to help.
March 25, 2026 10:58 AM
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Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins surveys Nebraska wildfire damage as cattle losses, tight supplies, rising imports, and beef industry investigations impact U.S. markets. Roger McEowen outlines legal and tax considerations for ranchers recovering from wildfire damage.
March 23, 2026 11:18 AM
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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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