It is the time of year when some of the strongest winds are coming through the Midwest.
Weather has a large impact on prescribed burning and fire behavior. With pasture burning in full swing, the combination of warmer temperatures and low humidity can create extreme fire weather.
A meteorologist warns this year’s peak La Niña is increasing fire risks!
According to Chip Redmond, “Combined with those warmer temperatures and the low humidities is a recipe for extreme fire weather. And it had a lot of people out burning recently, and a bit of a reminder, if you do not have that fire out, you potentially could have a good cause— a significant fire that could go many, many miles and be impossible to control. We’ve got the peak La Niña and that’s typically in years with La Niña, we see the most acres burned in the state of Kansas any given spring. And so with this La Niña, we’re seeing the weather that correlates well with dry conditions, fire weather threats, and the potential drought expansion as well, because we’re going out multiple weeks in a row with very little precipitation.”
He adds that with these factors in play, landowners must remain cautious to avoid large-scale wildfires.
Ag leaders say President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is unlikely to spark major agriculture headlines, but ongoing tariff uncertainty and trade policy remain key concerns, as does the debate around glyphosate and the status of the next Farm Bill.
February 24, 2026 11:57 AM
·
Cotton jassid, a invasive pest, is raising concerns for Southeast cotton growers as experts work to understand its impact this season.
February 24, 2026 09:00 AM
·
February 23, 2026 02:16 PM
Border closures tied to the threat of New World Screwworm continue to stall Mexican fed cattle imports, tightening U.S. feeder cattle supplies over time — triggering feedlot closures that hinder herd rebuilding efforts, threaten the beef supply chain, and shrink production while consumer prices stay elevated.
February 23, 2026 01:40 PM
·
Brooks York of AgriSompo discusses projected prices and how farmers are adapting their crop insurance strategies as the price discovery period comes to a close.
February 23, 2026 12:32 PM
·
Ranger Road Fire has burned 283,000 acres across Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle and is nearing containment, as ranchers begin assessing cattle and infrastructure losses as they look toward recovery.
February 23, 2026 11:08 AM
·
