All articles tagged with #texas panhandle
Texas’ beef industry faces a multi-front squeeze: the screwworm outbreak raises containment costs and risk to herds, while drought, wildfires and inflation push up inputs and logistics costs; together with tariffs and a consolidating meat-packing sector, ranchers, processors and barbecue joints are seeing higher costs and shrinking margins even as beef prices remain elevated.
A Texas Panhandle businessman, Salem Abraham, is leading efforts by local towns to pressure Xcel Energy to upgrade its aging infrastructure after wildfires caused by utility poles, with plans to potentially take over the utility if safety concerns persist. The coalition of towns is also exploring legal avenues for a utility takeover, citing safety failures and community distrust, while Xcel claims to have implemented significant safety measures and infrastructure improvements.
Historic wildfires in the Texas Panhandle have killed thousands of cattle, devastating the largest cattle region in the nation and causing widespread damage to homes and property. The Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest wildfire in state history, has burned over 1 million acres of land, impacting the livelihoods of local ranchers and farmers. The mass deaths of livestock are expected to double or triple in the coming days, and the recovery effort will be prolonged, with many facing the loss of their businesses and family heirlooms.
In the wake of the devastating wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, a veterinary emergency team from Texas A&M is working to save and treat animals including cows, horses, donkeys, cats, and dogs. The team is encountering scenes of singed tails, burned hides, and orphaned animals, highlighting the widespread impact of the fires on the region's livestock and wildlife. The wildfires, including the largest-ever fire in the state, continue to pose challenges as dry, windy weather exacerbates the fire risk across the area.
Historic wildfires in the Texas Panhandle have devastated cattle ranches, leaving ranchers with the grim task of disposing of burned cattle carcasses and euthanizing severely injured ones. The fires have burned 1,950 square miles, causing significant financial burdens for ranchers who expect to lose thousands of cattle worth thousands of dollars each. The impact on consumer beef prices is likely to be minimal, but the loss of grass, barns, and fences will further hurt surviving cattle and ranchers. The wildfires have also exacerbated the existing shortage of cattle in the U.S., impacting the industry immensely.
The Texas Panhandle is battling several large wildfires, including the largest blaze in state history, with over a million acres burned in Texas and 25,000 acres in Oklahoma. At least two people have died, and the governor has declared a disaster in 60 counties. The wildfires have caused extensive damage to properties, including the historic Turkey Track Ranch. While some relief is expected with cooler temperatures and a chance of rain and snow, unseasonably warm and windy weather is forecast to return, posing a continued threat.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle, which started on Monday, has become the second-largest wildfire in Texas history, burning hundreds of thousands of acres, leading to evacuation orders and road closures in surrounding towns. A map tracking the areas burned by the fire will continue to be updated as new data is released.
A small obsidian blade found in the Texas Panhandle has provided compelling evidence of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s expedition over 470 years ago, according to SMU anthropologist Matthew Boulanger. The blade's chemical composition ties it to Central Mexico, where indigenous people used obsidian to produce cutting tools until the Spanish conquest. Boulanger's findings, published in the Journal of the North Texas Archeological Society, suggest that the artifact is part of a Coronado-related site and a clue to the expedition’s trail, emphasizing the importance of documenting artifact locations for archaeological research.
A small piece of obsidian found in the Texas Panhandle has been linked to Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's expedition by SMU anthropologist Matthew Boulanger. The artifact's chemical composition ties it to Central Mexico's Sierra de Pachuca mountain range, where indigenous people used obsidian to produce cutting tools. The discovery suggests that Coronado's expedition, which included indigenous people from Mexico, may have passed through the area. The artifact's origin raises questions about trade networks and provides potential clues to the expedition's trail, emphasizing the importance of documenting artifact locations for archaeologists.
A winter storm is bringing heavy snow to the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, with up to 12 inches expected in some areas. Colorado has already seen over a foot of snow, causing road closures and travel restrictions. The storm is also expected to bring rain and potential severe thunderstorms to the Gulf Coast, and later in the week, snow is forecasted for the Northeast and New England, with up to a foot expected in some areas.