The first puffs of black smoke can drive fear into the heart of the most hardened cattle rancher. Wildfire season has morphed into a year-round issue for many farms and ranches in the Western U.S. The reasons why can be up for debate, but the bottom line is that cattle ranchers need to have a wildfire preparedness plan that can be implemented at a moment’s notice. This includes planning for watering your herd when wildfires strike.

The Texas High Plains cover the Panhandle and consist of relatively flat land except for dissection by canyons of various depths and widths. There is a significant amount of native grass rangeland used by cattle and wildlife.