Over half a million acres of grazing land lost in Sandhills wildfires

The wildfire burning across the Nebraska Sandhills into mid-March is difficult to comprehend in scale. As of March 14, the Morrill Fire had already burned approximately 548,993 acres (about 858 square miles), and it continues to grow. When combined with several other fires burning across Nebraska, the total burned area is approaching 1,200 square miles, roughly the size of the entire state of Rhode Island.

For those who know the Sandhills, the impact goes far beyond numbers on a map.

The University of Nebrasksa-Lincoln describes the Nebraska Sandhills are the largest contiguous grassland in North America, spanning more than 19,000 square miles, with about 95 percent of that land privately owned and used for beef production. These rolling dunes and native prairies support a massive portion of Nebraska’s cattle industry, which is valued at over $12 billion annually. Ranches here rely almost entirely on the grasslands for summer grazing and hay production.

Much of the land burned is working rangeland, meaning the loss isn’t just vegetation; it is the foundation of ranch families’ livelihoods. Early estimates suggest that between 25,000 and 40,000 mother cows may need to be relocated off their home range because the pasture they rely on for grazing has been destroyed.

For ranchers in the Sandhills, pasture is everything. Native grasses such as sand bluestem, prairie sandreed, little bluestem, and switchgrass produce the forage that sustains cow-calf operations throughout the grazing season. When those grasses burn, the entire management system including grazing rotations, hay production, and winter feeding plans can be thrown into chaos.

The scale of the Morrill Fire becomes even more startling when compared with other well-known wildfires. In just 24 hours, it burned more acreage than Colorado’s Cameron Peak Fire, which took more than 100 days to reach its record size. On the ground, the fireline itself stretches nearly 7 miles, advancing quickly across dry prairie fueled by high winds and a winter with little snowfall.

Fire danger across Nebraska remains extremely high. Warm, dry conditions combined with strong winds have created ideal wildfire conditions across the plains. According to KNOP News 2, firefighters, ranchers, and emergency crews from across the region continue battling multiple blazes, including fires near Halsey, Valentine, Brady, and Maxwell, while evacuations and road closures have affected nearby communities.

Burned pastures can take multiple growing seasons to fully recover, and replacing lost fencing alone can require miles of posts and wire. In the meantime, ranchers must find alternative grazing for displaced cattle, often hundreds of miles away.

Across Nebraska and beyond, people are stepping up to help ranch families rebuild. One example is the “Sandhills Strong” t-shirt fundraiser, organized to support wildfire recovery. Every shirt sold will be 100 percent donated to the Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief, a rancher-led effort focused on helping producers recover after the fires. It’s one small way people are showing support for the families whose pastures, fences, and livelihoods have been affected.

The agricultural community is also organizing direct assistance for producers who lost grazing ground or feed. Ranchers needing livestock feed can contact the Garden County Extension Office in Oshkosh, Nebraska, which is coordinating feed assistance and connecting producers with available resources.

In addition, several supply drop locations have been established to collect hay and fencing materials needed to rebuild miles of destroyed fence:

• Bridgeport: Kraupie’s Northport Lot — 9920 US-385. Contact: Del Ray Kraupie (308) 279-1692
• Arthur: Crusty’s Feed Store. Contacts: Jason (308) 764-7090
• Oshkosh: Hay donations: Oshkosh Truck Shop. Contact: Kirk Schoeneman (308) 241-0809
  • Fencing supplies: Oshkosh Lumber — Jordan Russell (308) 458-7470
• Hyannis: Grant County Fairgrounds. Contact: Wyatt Thurston (682) 262-0942
• Hay donations are also being coordinated through Paul Cleveland at (308) 726-5652

For producers who have suffered losses, federal assistance may also be available through the USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Relief Programs, including:

• Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses caused by drought or fire
• Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for livestock deaths exceeding normal mortality
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock (ELAP) which can help cover costs such as replacement feed, transporting livestock feed, or hauling water to livestock

Producers are strongly encouraged to document everything, including receipts, livestock records, photos, and transportation costs, to support disaster relief claims.

The scale of these fires will leave lasting impacts on the Sandhills. Burned pastures may take several growing seasons to recover, and replacing fencing alone can require miles of posts and wire. In the meantime, ranchers must find alternative grazing for thousands of cattle while rebuilding the infrastructure that keeps their operations running.

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