March 6, 2017
RFD-TV’s Marlin Bohling speaks via phone with Richard Hruska, Market Reporter with USDA’s Market News Service in Dodge City, KS, about the devastation caused by wildfires in the central and southern Plains this week.
Hruska reports that wind gusts up to 60 mph have spread the flames all over region, with significant losses of livestock, equipment, hay – and in some unfortunate instances – human lives.
Listen to the complete interview, as broadcast on Rural Radio Sirius XM Channel 147 in the video clip above.
Several have asked about ways to assist cattle producers affected by the ongoing fires in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Below is a brief summary of the situation with contact information to make hay donations.
As of late Tuesday, Texas Forest Service estimates over 430,000 acres have burned in three Texas Panhandle fires (Potter/Carson, Ochiltree/Lipscomb/Roberts/Hemphill, and Gray/Wheeler counties). Estimates of acreage burned in Oklahoma, including Beaver County, are 400,000 acres.
We don’t yet have good estimates of cattle deaths, but more than 5,000 head have been displaced and are in immediate need of hay / feed supplies.
COLORADO ASSISTANCE:
Please contact the following organizations or individuals regarding the latest donation needs.
CHS Grainland in Haxtun – Rick Unrein (970) 520-3565
Kent Kokes 970-580-8109
John Michal 970-522-2330
Justin Price 970-580-6315
Dan Firme 970-520-0949
Colorado Farm Bureau has activated a disaster fund to help the farmers and ranchers directly impacted by the Northeast Colorado wildfire in Logan and Phillips counties.
Cash and checks can be sent to:
Colorado Farm Bureau Foundation
Attn: Disaster Fund
9177 E. Mineral Circle
Centennial, CO 80112
To make an online donation, click here.
TEXAS ASSISTANCE:
Please contact the following organizations regarding the latest donation needs.
Gray County Livestock Supply Point
Clyde Carruth Pavilion
301 Bull Barn Drive, Pampa, TX
Contact – Mike Jeffcoat, CEA / Office # 806-669-8033 / Cell # 580-467-0753
Lipscomb County Livestock Supply Point
Lipscomb County Show Facility
202 West Main Street, Lipscomb, TX
Contact – J.R. Sprague, CEA / Office # 806-862-4601 / Cell # 806-202-5288
OKLAHOMA ASSISTANCE:
Please contact the following organizations regarding the latest donation needs.
Buffalo Feeders
4 miles east of Buffalo, OK on Hwy 64
Contact – Caleb Nelson / 580-727-1332
Tyree Ag
US-283, Laverne, OK
(Just over 1 mile north of stop light, last business north side of Laverne, east side of the road.)
Contact – Jay Dee Nielsen / 580-334-6819
Dale Long
1 mile east, ½ mile north, ½ mile east of Gate, OK
Contact – Dale Long / 580-571-1249
May Coop Elevator / May, OK
Contact – Tom Fanning / 580-727-5530
Buffalo Coop
322 E Harper, Buffalo, OK 73834
Contact – Beverly Mings / 580-735-2533
Western Equipment
3999 Lakeview Drive, Woodward, OK
Contact – Caleb Zook / 580-254-0080
KANSAS ASSISTANCE:
Please contact Kansas Livestock Foundation regarding the latest donation needs. The organization will deliver the materials to affected areas throughout Kansas. To donate, visit. www.kla.org OR call 785-273-5115.