Massive wildfires have struck the Texas panhandle this week amid gusty winds and unusually warm weather.
The deadly wildfires have scorched over 1 million acres and taken the lives of thousands of livestock.
As of this weekend, the fire is only 15% contained.
Report from The Texas Tribune:
The agriculture industry, a big driver of the state’s economy, was already facing pressures from prolonged and widespread drought that forced ranchers to manage smaller herds, contributing to a decrease in beef production nationally. The series of wildfires in the Panhandle this week is another blow as many ranchers tried to rebuild their herds and operations during the cooler months of the year.
Over 85% of the state’s cattle population is located on ranches in the Panhandle, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. In 2021, agriculture accounted for 9% of Texas’ gross state product, adding $186.1 billion to the state’s economy, according to Texas A&M’s Agrilife Extension report.
While numbers on how many cattle were lost in the fires are unknown, experts say ranchers will face significant economic pressure from the damage.
