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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.


Trending Video

Secure Pork Supply Plan | Prepare to Protect Your Herd | U.S. Pork Producers

Video: Secure Pork Supply Plan | Prepare to Protect Your Herd | U.S. Pork Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan in preparing the U.S. pork industry for potential foreign animal disease outbreaks. This video is an essential watch for pork producers who are looking to safeguard their operations against the threats of diseases like foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, and African swine fever.

•Why Should Pork Producers Care?

An outbreak of foreign animal diseases in the U.S. could lead to severe restrictions and potentially result in industry-wide financial losses estimated between $15 to $100 billion. The SPS Plan is a collective effort to prevent such catastrophic outcomes by enhancing biosecurity, ensuring animal traceability, and promoting effective disease monitoring.

What You'll Learn:

The Importance of Preparedness: Understand why being proactive is crucial for maintaining business continuity during an outbreak.

•Enhanced Biosecurity Measures:

Write a site-specific biosecurity plan that can serve as the first line of defense against potential outbreaks.

•Animal Disease Traceability:

Learn about the significance of tracking animal movement and how acquiring a premises identification number (PIN) and using AgView can facilitate this process. Disease Monitoring: Find out how continuous observation and reporting can keep your herd healthy and disease-free.

•Getting Started with SPS:

The video breaks down the seemingly daunting task of preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak into manageable steps. With free resources available at www.securepork.org, including templates and instructions, Jill guides producers on developing a customized plan to enhance their farm's defenses.

•Expert Insights:

Hear from Dr. Pam Zaabel on collaborating with your herd veterinarian to develop and implement your SPS plan effectively.

•Takeaway:

The Secure Pork Supply initiative is more than a plan; it's a commitment to the resilience of our food supply and the livelihoods within the pork industry. By embracing these proactive measures, we can collectively enhance our preparedness for foreign animal disease outbreaks.

 

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