{"id":300173,"date":"2026-05-19T19:53:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/300173\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T19:53:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:53:15","slug":"texas-ag-commissioner-sid-miller-discusses-wildfire-damage-and-recovery-efforts-in-the-panhandle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/300173\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller Discusses Wildfire Damage and Recovery Efforts in the Panhandle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>STEPHENVILLE, Texas (RFD News) \u2014 <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/wildfires-continue-to-threaten-farms-and-ranches-from-the-plains-to-the-panhandle\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wildfires continue impacting parts of the Texas Panhandle<\/a> as crews work to contain multiple fires threatening farms, ranches, and rural communities.<\/p>\n<p>Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller joined us on Tuesday\u2019s<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/shows\/agriculture-shows\/us-farm-report-1\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Market Day Report<\/a> to provide an update on current fire conditions and containment efforts across the region.<\/p>\n<p>In his conversation with<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/news\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> RFD News<\/a>, Miller discussed damage to infrastructure and landscapes and addressed what farmers and ranchers in the area are experiencing as recovery efforts begin. He also spoke about the potential agricultural impact of the fires and what the rebuilding outlook could look like moving forward, including the biggest needs communities may face during recovery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re still getting an account on the structures \u2014 more than a dozen structures have been lost,\u201d Miller told RFD News. \u201cNo human lives. There has been livestock loss. We don\u2019t have the numbers. They\u2019re still coming in. It\u2019s still early to get those preliminary numbers on the livestock and the number of structures that we\u2019ve lost.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Before wrapping up the conversation, Miller also provided an update on New World screwworm prevention efforts. Miller said he fears the disease is inevitable after the USDA signaled that<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/usda-expands-new-world-screwworm-surveillance-as-cases-rise-in-mexico-and-sterile-fly-supply-stays-limited\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"> sterile fly supplies in Mexico remain limited <\/a>and that they are being as strategic as possible with their release. <\/p>\n<p>Donations for wildfire relief can be made at The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/texasagriculture.gov\/Home\/Production-Agriculture\/Disaster-Assistance\/STAR-Fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">website<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-ee0001\" name=\"list-ee0001\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Wildfires Continue to Threaten Farms and Ranches in the Texas Panhandle\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/wildfires-continue-to-threaten-farms-and-ranches-from-the-plains-to-the-panhandle\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"2PFuSjTE.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779220392_834_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Volunteer firefighters describe devastating scenes as crews continue battling multiple fires across the region.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 19, 2026 01:48 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"RFD-TV Weekly Crop Progress and Livestock Production Regional Update \u2014 Monday, May 18, 2026\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/rfd-tv-weekly-crop-progress-and-livestock-production-regional-update-monday-may-18-2026\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Crop Progress Graphic\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779195009_322_.png\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Drought and Planting Shape Weekly State Agriculture Recap\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 18, 2026 04:02 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Hunggate Fire Nearly Contained in Texas as Drought Fuels More Wildfires in Kansas\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/hunggate-fire-nearly-contained-in-texas-as-drought-fuels-more-wildfires-in-kansas\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"i0aOLwUX.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779220393_661_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Firefighters continue battling multiple wildfires across southwest Kansas as drought conditions fuel fire danger and raise concerns about additional cattle herd liquidation.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 18, 2026 12:32 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Hunggate Fire Burns 14,000 Acres in the Texas Panhandle\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/hunggate-fire-burns-14-000-acres-in-the-texas-panhandle\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Hunggate Fire_photo by Logan Marshall_1920x1080.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779220394_259_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        ASFMRA\u2019s Paul Burgener shares updates on the Hunggate Fire, Panhandle wildfire conditions, infrastructure damage and potential impacts to agriculture in the region.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 15, 2026 11:14 AM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Kansas Wheat Tour Highlights Drought Damage and Market Pressure\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/kansas-wheat-tour-highlights-drought-damage-and-market-pressure\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"DtKOKOXU.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779220394_695_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Analysts say poor crop conditions seen on the annual Hard Red Winter Wheat Tour, combined with cheaper overseas grain supplies, are weighing on the industry as the annual tour wraps up.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 14, 2026 02:35 PM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"USDA Wheat Cuts Trigger Rally in Grain Markets\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rfdtv.com\/usda-wheat-cuts-trigger-rally-in-grain-markets\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"hard-red-winter-wheat.jpg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"57\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779220395_152_.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n        Lower wheat production, smaller stocks, and higher projected prices explain the rally and put more attention on Plains crop conditions.\n    <\/p>\n<p>May 14, 2026 06:00 AM<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STEPHENVILLE, Texas (RFD News) \u2014 Wildfires continue impacting parts of the Texas Panhandle as crews work to contain&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":300174,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27,29,28],"class_list":["post-300173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=300173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300173\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/300174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=300173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=300173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=300173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}