Wildfire hearings spark hope for Texas ranchers

Apr 08, 2024

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.

Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.