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Wildfire hearings spark hope for Texas ranchers

By Farms.com

Amidst the backdrop of Texas's largest recorded wildfire, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association leaders stepped forward to highlight the plight of the ranching community. During a three-day legislative hearing, Directors James Henderson and Joe Leathers outlined the significant challenges and losses faced by ranchers and landowners.

The hearings, focusing on disaster preparedness, response mechanisms, and governmental coordination, served as a platform for discussing the broader implications of wildfires on the ranching industry. Leathers, representing both the ranching community and the 6666 Ranch, stressed that the recurrent wildfires are not mere natural disasters but are exacerbated by human oversight and infrastructural neglect.

The dialogue aimed at shedding light on the critical need for improved disaster response strategies and stronger infrastructure maintenance to prevent future calamities. With findings from the hearings due in a report, the ranching community remains hopeful for actionable insights that could lead to better protection against wildfires, ensuring the sustainability of Texas ranching.


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How AI Is Changing Family Hog Farms | Duane Stateler on Technology & the Future of Pork Production

Video: How AI Is Changing Family Hog Farms | Duane Stateler on Technology & the Future of Pork Production

Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape pork production, and longtime pork producer Duane Stateler believes the industry is only getting started.

Recorded at World Pork Expo 2026, Stateler shares how technology has already transformed modern hog farming—from automated barn climate control and feed monitoring to real-time alerts—and explains why AI will play an even bigger role in improving animal care, efficiency, and decision-making.

As a fifth-generation hog farmer, he also discusses the importance of family farms, succession planning, labor, and how technology is helping today's producers care for more animals while maintaining high welfare standards.

In this interview:

The future of AI in pork production

How smart barns improve pig care

Feed bin monitoring and automation

Labor challenges and family farming

Why technology is shaping the next generation of producers