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In this March 7, 2017 file photo, a lone cow wanders charred prairie following devastating wildfires in Clark County, Kan.
Some High Plains Farmers Struggling After Fires, Drought

Deep snow is melting into Western mountain streams, but some farmers and ranchers on the high plains are struggling amid a lengthy dry spell and the aftermath of destructive wildfires.

As many as 10,000 cattle died as a result of the wildfires.
New Farm Journal Fund Doubles Your Donation for Wildfire Recovery

The ag community rallied around those impacted by the devastating March wildfires, but rebuilding will take years—and significant financial support. That’s why Farm Journal is proud to announce the Million Dollar Wildfire Relief Challenge, launching today, which enables you to help ranching families rebuild by doubling your donation.

A cow stands over her calf, killed in the fire at the Grigsbys’ ranch.
Kansas Family Faces Fear Amid Wildfire

The Grisby family near Ashland, Kan. continue to handle the aftermath of last month's Starbuck Fire.

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Valuable Cattle Genetics Among Losses in Wildfires

When the wildfires tore through the southern Plains, they destroyed homes, some peoples’ livelihoods, and even genetics.

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Oklahoma Family Overwhelmed After Support From Wildfires Arrives

Rusty and Jennifer Colten live and ranch in Harper County, Ok. Jennifer’s great grandparents homesteaded in the Oklahoma panhandle and the land has been with the family ever since.

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Texas Recovering from Human, Livestock Losses From Plains Fires

While the wildfires in the southern Plains claimed many livestock and wild animals, there were also human lives lost trying to save the animals they cared for greatly.

Smoldering debris after Colorado wildfires.
Colorado Wildfire Burns 32,000 Acres, Cattle

Colorado is dealing with the brittle conditions after a wildfire hit the northeast corner of the state, burning more than 32,000 acres in a time frame of eight hours earlier this month.

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Kan. Veterinarian Shows Aftermath of Southern Plains Fires on Cattle

Thousands of cattle were lost to the southern Plains wildfires. Some were overcome by the flames and smoke trying to escape the blaze. Others had to be put down because of severe injuries.

Burnt cattle from southern Plains wildfires.
Gardiner Angus Ranch Loses 500 Cattle In Wildfire, Resilience Prevails

The epicenter of the Kansas fire was in Clark County, where roughly 50 percent of the land was burned. It’s considered cattle country and is home to one of the most recognizable Angus breeders in the country, the Gardiner Ranch.

Makenna Boggs feeds a bucket calf orphaned by the Starbuck Fire.
Kansas 4-H Group Takes In Bucket Calves After Wild Fires

Ranchers and veterinarians will continue to determine the damage and clean up the mess for months to come after the wildfires that engulfed farms and ranches earlier this month. A young 4-H group in Meade County, Kan. is helping in their own unique way.

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Ohio Farmers Sending Help to Kansas Ranches Hit by Wildfires

Ohio farmers are sending hay, fencing materials and other supplies to Kansas to help ranches that were devastated by wildfires this month.

Firefighters from across Kansas and Oklahoma battle a wildfire near Protection, Kan., Monday, March 6, 2017.
3 Types of Wildfire Cattle: Healthy, Dead, or Need to Be Euthanized

Veterinarians and livestock producers are assessing more than antibiotic use in southwest Kansas where a blaze swept through the high plains earlier this month.

Surviving Cattle From Wildfire at Risk of Laminitis

While thousands of cattle died in last week’s wildfires in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, those also hit hard by fire are the surviving beef cattle. 

Fire damage across Texas
Texas Faces at Least $21 Million in Wildfire Damages

Texas ranchers are facing at least $21 million in agricultural damages from wildfires that blackened more than 750 square miles in the Texas Panhandle last week.

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Southern Plains Blaze May Be Out, But Relief Still Needed

The wildfires in Kansas may be extinguished, but the need for help is far from over. Ranch families say the community needs assistance now more than ever.

Fire damage across Texas
4 Governors Seek Grazing Assistance Because of Wildfires

Governors in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico are asking for grazing restrictions to be lifted on CRP acres. 

Firefighters from across Kansas and Oklahoma battle a wildfire near Protection, Kan., Monday, March 6, 2017.
Wind Conditions Should Ease, Helping Crews Battle Wildfires

Winds are expected to slow down Wednesday, but weather conditions are still not ideal for emergency crews battling wildfires in four states that have killed six people and destroyed hundreds of square miles of land.

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Deadly Wildfires Force Thousands From Homes

Emergency crews on Tuesday struggled to contain deadly wildfires that have scorched hundreds of square miles of land in four states and forced thousands of people to flee their homes ahead of the wind-whipped flames.

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The Effects on Cattle Producers in Drought-Stricken Areas

Since the beginning of the year, the national drought picture has dramatically improved, but there are still problem areas in parts of the central and southern Plains.

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Weather Stress May Push Cattle Prices Higher

Winter weather could continue to help drive cattle prices higher.

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Polar Vortex Blasting U.S. Dealt a Short Life by Dueling Weather

Polar Vortex Blasting U.S. Dealt a Short Life by Dueling Weather

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A Chilling La Nina Is Seen Sticking Around Through the Winter

Northern U.S. gets cold in a La Nina, while the South warms.

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Deadly Lightning Strike Kills 19 Cows in Texas

Nineteen cows are dead in east Texas after lightning struck the tree they were standing underneath during the storm.

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Cattle Ranchers Still Recovering After 2011 Texas Drought

The year 2011 — the driest year on record in Texas — was the stuff of nightmares for area ranchers.

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Prepare for Heat Stress in Cattle

Heat and humidity could lead to heat stress this week.

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Hot Weather Could Help Increase Cattle Prices

Beef demand unlikely to slip, but weights could fall amid heat.

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Cattle on Feed and Forage Conditions Improving

Cattle on feed continues to increase, while drought conditions go away in the Northern and Southern Plains.

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New Challenges Emerge for Cattle Ranchers After 2012 Drought

The beef industry is still rebounding from 2012's drought and now cattlemen are facing new challenges.

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Firefighters Hope to Contain Oklahoma Blaze as Winds Subside

Firefighters battling a large wildfire in northwestern Oklahoma caught a break Thursday from diminished winds, but forecasters warned that other areas of the Midwest are at risk for pop-up fires because of dry air and strong gusts.

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LSU AgCenter: Losses From March Flooding Could Top $15 Million

The agricultural loss from the March flooding across Louisiana could top $15 million, according to an economist with the LSU AgCenter.

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Major Snowstorm to Hit U.S. Cattle Herds at Worst Possible Time

Snow is on the way for Wyoming, and it’s coming at the wrong time of year for ranchers.

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Hungry Cattle Help OSU Researchers Discover Drought Resistant Wheat

When drought ravages the countryside, farmers struggle to bring yields. In an effort to help farmers overcome these obstacles, a team at Oklahoma State University uses cattle to discover drought and freeze tolerant wheat variety.

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Federal Agency Negligence Leads to Catastrophic Wildfires Across the West

As massive wildfires blaze across the West this week, the need to address the increasing wildfire threat is even more apparent.

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Grass Seed Farmers Expect Low Yields Due to Drought

Drought and heat have stressed Oregon's grass seed crops in multiple ways, which has farmers expecting a substantial decrease in yields now that harvest is underway.

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Hawaii Drought, Record Temperatures Hurting Maui Ranchers

Record-setting heat and severe drought are hurting Leeward region ranchers on Maui and their cattle herds.

Drought in California field
Vegan DJ Moby Beefs With California Farmers Over Drought Crisis

Best known for platinum records in the early 2000s that put a techno sheen on blues and soul, the 49-year-old is taking on the drought-stricken state’s $46.4 billion agriculture industry with a petition calling for restrictions on how much water farmers may use.

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Heavy Spring Rain Helps Texas Pastures, Cattle Outlook

One of the wettest springs on record is keeping Dwain Mayfield and his ranch hands busy.

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Drought's End Could Bring Cattle Herd Expansion

With the drought over, ranchers are preparing to expand U.S. herds that had shrunk to the smallest since 1952 and sent beef prices surging to records.

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Drenching Rains Green Pastures, Bode Well for Herd Expansion

Drenching rains that recently soaked the Great Plains have brought welcomed moisture to areas still recovering from droughts, greening pastures as ranchers begin the annual rite of moving cattle to the nation's summer grazing lands.

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Drought Concerns: Milo and Forage Sorghum as Potential Alternatives

The region is lacking a lot of needed moisture going into the growing season. Due to these conditions we need to start looking at potential alternatives for forage production.

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BeefTalk: Prepare for the Unexpected, Live the Expected

As producers, there is no way to control the amount of rain we get, so we are forced to develop management plans that will be accommodating to various levels of moisture.

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Climate Outlook for Pasture Conditions and Drought Management Steps

Even though we don’t know for sure how pasture conditions will turn out it’s never too early to make drought management plans.

Livestock Producers Need Stocking Rate Reduction Plan

Producers should be proactive in case drought is a problem this year.

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BeefTalk: Start Planning Now if the Summer Looks Dry

Drought and excess moisture are very frequent concerns in the agricultural community. This year appears to moving in the direction of dryness.

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Favorable Spring Forecast

CattleFax predicts a cool start to planting and mild summer temperatures

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Taming Mother Nature: Indoor Cattle Facility Offers Big Health Benefits

Instead of battling through Michigan’s cold winters and muddy springs, Ron Weston thought he’d just build around it.

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Livestock Indemnity Program and the Importance of Recordkeeping

LIP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather.

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Plan For Drought When Preparing Pasture Lease

Drought can play havoc on pasture leases.

U.S. Cattle Industry Will Expand as Drought Eases

Lower feed costs, record meat prices and an easing drought point to expansion in the U.S. cattle industry.