Hurricane Relief Fund at $86,000

Cattlemen have responded to calls for hurricane relief.  The National Cattlemen’s Foundation has collected more than $86,000 in contributions to date.  While the initial shock has passed, help is still needed.  Contributions can be sent to National Cattlemen’s Foundation, Disaster Relief Fund, 9110 E. Nichols Ave., Suite 300, Centennial, CO  80112.

Initial aid packages from cattlemen began shipping around Sept. 12.  With approval from USDA for the use of checkoff funds, 288,000 1-ounce packages of beef jerky were sent to Hurricane Katrina victims.  The Oberto Sausage Company in Seattle sold them at cost and donated the freight. Also, 20,000 14-ounce cans of cooked beef from Heartland Farms in Missouri were shipped. 

 The jerky was distributed by the Salvation Army in Houston, Biloxi, Miss., and Jackson, Miss.  The canned beef was sent to the Salvation Army as part of its feeding operations in Biloxi and Jackson.  Louisiana warehouses were full at the time of shipment. 

Bob Felknor, executive vice president of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, reports that Hurricane Rita flooded the entire Gulf Coast area.  Areas that have drained are salt poisoned or mud covered.  Cattle, as of Oct. 12, were still stranded on levees without food or water.  Local hay is needed and being used where they can get to the cattle.  Water is being delivered.  Bob estimates 20,000- 25,000 head were lost.

Sammy Blossom reports that Mississippi is still working through its problems, but Hurricane Rita did not cause huge damage. 

There is fence and wind damage along the Mississippi/Alabama line and in parts of Texas.