Wildfires
While the reality of the damage from the devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire is compounding, according to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Meteorologist Brad Rippey, weather conditions are improving.
The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation has a wildfire disaster relief fund in place to help producers in need that are being impacted by ongoing wildfires like the Smokehouse Creek Fire.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire has now burned more than 1 million acres in Texas and is only 15% contained with losses near $15 billion for the state’s cattle industry alone.
Farmworkers are 35 times more likely to die of heat-related stress than others.
Looking back on the major weather events of 2023 unveils nature’s unpredictability in the times of El Niño— we experienced everything from the deadliest wildfire in a century and unprecedented tropical storm warnings to months of extreme heat and “exceptional” drought that strained producers across Rural America.
Fall foliage mixed with drought conditions across the Southern U.S. are increasing the wildfire risk across the region, providing temporary fuel for 10 big, new blazes in the last week. However, incoming wet weather should slightly tamper that risk, according to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey in his latest update for farmers.
As extreme heat bears down on a large portion of the country, crews from across Louisiana are battling intense wildfires in Beauregard Parish.
USDA meteorologists warn high temps and dry conditions are cause for concern over the next few days.
Satellite images show how the island’s agriculture is at risk