A downed power line and high winds have triggered devastating wildfires in western Nebraska, burning more than half a million acres.
Laura Field, the executive vice president of the Nebraska Cattlemen, says that despite the devastation, agriculture is doing what it is does best: coming together to help each other.
“It is really a time when we see the absolute best in the agriculture community. It’s calving season out in that part of the state. So many people have started calving later to avoid the harsh winters, and so, a lot of people have their cows in close, which is a blessing sometimes, and a difficulty. If they’re all together, they can move them more quickly. However, if they’re in a place where a fire is headed, to get them moved quickly can be challenging, too.”
These fires are burning up a lot of summer pastures, which means producers are losing a lot of grass that cattle were going to consume in the summer.
“We know fire is a great tool to grow back healthy landscapes, but right now, these are their summer pastures that are going to be gone. And so, with the number of cattle that are in that part of the state, I think the biggest challenge people are thinking about right now is, where are we going to go? What are we going to do? And at the same time, our phones, especially at Nebraska Cattlemen, and I know all across the state, have been ringing, saying, ‘We’ve got trucks loaded. We’re ready to send supplies. We’re ready to send hay.’”
Field says this wildfire has officially been declared the largest wildfire in Nebraska’s history.
The Nebraska Cattlemen have set up a Disaster Relief Fund where 100% of donations will be distributed to producers who have been impacted. Make your donation at the Nebraska Cattlemen website.
