Blazin' Grazin' And Other Wild Things

Don’t Let Embers Take Everything - BGWT 201

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This episode is made possible by support from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

Wildfire preparedness isn’t just a checklist — it’s a resilience plan for your ranch, your family, and your community. In this episode of Blazin’ Grazin’ and Other Wild Things, hosts John Weir and Dr. Mark Turner talk with OSU Extension Agriculture and Food Policy specialist Amy Hagerman, Ph.D., about what to do before, during, and after a wildfire or other disaster.

They cover practical steps that reduce loss (parking equipment on bare ground, shutting buildings to keep embers out, splitting hay into multiple locations, and keeping fence rows clean), plus the recovery side: how insurance documentation works, why you shouldn’t clean up before adjusters document damage, and which USDA disaster programs may help with livestock loss, fencing, hauling water, and hay-related needs. 

The conversation also highlights a critical but often overlooked part of recovery: monitoring mental health in yourself and your neighbors long after the event.

Top 10 takeaways (the “do this next” list)

  1. Pick one high-impact task this weekend (don’t try to do everything at once).
  2. Split hay into multiple locations — avoid one catastrophic pile loss.
  3. Park equipment on bare ground or gravel (or mow/graze it tight).
  4. Clean equipment (built-up grass and residue can ignite fast).
  5. Shut doors on shops/barns during fire season to reduce ember entry.
  6. Create an evacuation plan + go bag (papers, meds, chargers).
  7. Digitize key records so “proof” survives the fire.
  8. After a fire: document first, clean up second (insurance/program rules).
  9. Know the big program lanes: livestock loss (LIP), fencing cost share (ECP), hay/water hauling and related support (ELAP).
  10. Watch mental health long-term — stress often shows up later; check on neighbors.

    11. Timestamped Rundown

    00:00 – 01:56 | Cold open + show setup

    Sponsor slate and show intro: “fire meets forage,” focus of episode is being prepared before/during/after disaster; guest intro.
    01:56 – 03:40 | Meet the guest: roots + career path
    Amy Hagerman Ph.D. background: western Oklahoma, OSU ag econ, Texas A&M grad school, USDA experience, back to Oklahoma to serve producers.
    03:40 – 06:34 | Why disaster policy matters
    Preparedness vs. recovery programs; why most incentives are reactive; costs of production make prevention hard; producer bears losses until reimbursement.
    06:34 – 07:30 | Who does what: agencies + insurance
    NRCS as more proactive/conservation; FSA for recovery programs; insurance industry trends affect resilience.
    07:30 – 11:27 | Wildfire preparedness: physical actions that matter
    Checklist mindset; protect barns/hay/equipment; park equipment on bare ground or short grass; clean equipment; don’t keep “all eggs in one basket” (hay); fence rows and tree cleanup.
    11:27 – 13:58 | Insurance: get off autopilot
    Annual appointment with agent; update coverage for new barns/equipment; caps hit fast with today’s prices.
    13:58 – 16:44 | Real-world examples of prevention paying off
    You don’t hear the success stories because they “kept rolling.” Spread hay, clean fence rows, planned cattle routes to bare ground.
    16:44 – 19:15 | Land is resilient; people come first
    Great Plains adapted to fire; property loss is hardest; close doors to reduce ember entry; avoid risky last-ditch rescues.
    19:15 – 23:17 | Evacuation planning + documentation basics
    Debris under porches; evacuation checklist; important papers, meds, chargers; after an event, call your agent first; don’t clean up until documented.
    23:17 – 28:31 | Disaster programs overview (practical + specific)
    LIP (livestock deaths above normal mortality); documentation and proof of ownership; ECP for fencing (county activation; cost share; receipts; fixed rates); ELAP for hay/water hauling needs.
    28:31 – 32:33 | Helping neighbors: donations + tax realities
    Charities vs person-to-person distribution centers; talk to your tax preparer; what tends to be deductible and what may not.
    32:33 – 35:28 | OSU Extension DART: neighbors helping neighbors
    DART supports county educators with resources, people, answers; extension shines in preparedness/mitigation/recovery cycle.
    35:28 – 38:55 | Tools to watch: fire danger + “muscle memory”
    Use online maps/tools, check conditions before welding or risky work; get documentation in place now; learn program rules ahead of time.
    38:55 – 42:46 | Mental health after disaster
    Stress can hit weeks/months later; ask “are you OK?”; “be a bother”; community conversations matter; give yourself grace.
    42:46 – 45:10 | Wrap + where to find resources
    OSU Extension emergency/disaster resource page; county educator; show notes and website plug.

    Find all resources at BlazinGrazinWildThings.com

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    Blazin' Grazin' And Other Wild ThingsBy AgNow Media LLC