September 5, 2005

Information is trickling in on cattlemen across South Mississippi and while the destruction is extensive, we have not heard of anyone seriously injured in the storm.  Conditions for many producers remain very difficult as crews work to restore water and power to rural communities. The majority of reports received so far involve wind damage to homes and barns as well as millions of fallen trees.  Repairs to fences and facilities have been the primary tasks on most operations.

Few rural communities have power, water or phone service yet and estimates range from two days to two months for restoring electricity to homes on county roads.

 Dairymen and poultry growers are especially hard hit with supplies of diesel to power generators a critical need.  We have worked with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) and Farm Bureau to identify areas of need and over the weekend, they delivered two tanker loads to areas without diesel.

Several producers have dried their herd up because of a lack of power and damage to their facilities.  Their feed supply has been affected with the loss of service from mills in Lumberton and Arcola.  The local coops are pulling feed from mills in Shreveport and Fort Worth to keep up with demand.  Some producers reported cows killed by falling trees while others have mastitis and other animal health problems beginning to develop.  There is a need for polywire and solar fence chargers.

This morning, we had our first contact with a cattleman from Hancock County requesting hay for a pasture that had been covered with salt water. 
After the water receded, he lost several cows from drinking salt water and is not able to graze the salty grass.  Moley Herring from Lucedale Stockyard is delivering hay and protein blocks to this cattleman and his neighbors this afternoon.  Lucedale will have their regular Wednesday auction this week.

  

	On Saturday, NCBA field representative Melanie Sojourner, Phil Slay and I joined staff from the MSU Extension Service, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the state/federal veterinary assessment team at two meetings held in Pike and Walthall Counties to evaluate the needs of dairy producers there.
	J. D. Hopkins and Don McAbee are shown delivering a 20’ trailer loaded with generators, chain saws, feed, water and food to the MCA office.  The products were assembled by George, Joey and Jeff Martin of Martin & Martin Auctioneers, Inc., Pelzer, South Carolina for cattlemen and their friends needing help after Katrina.The trailer returned to South Carolina after unloading Friday night to get another load bound for Bay St. Louis.
	Phil Slay, Mike Pigott and the David Shivers family are shown helping the Michigan Baptist Disaster Relief Team serve meals at Tylertown Baptist Church.  The Shivers’ son Chris is Executive Vice President of the American Brahman Breeders’ Association.

Cattlemen Helping Out - Having already donated $25,000 to Red Cross relief efforts, the Texas Cattle Feeder's Association now hopes to raise an additional $1 million from special relief sales at livestock auctions. "We hope we can reach our goal in the next 45 days," said TCFA Chairman Charlie Sellers, who indicated that TCFA has established the Cattlemen's Katrina Fund to hold donations. "Cattle people have always helped in a time of need," he said, "and Louisiana and Mississippi need us now."

NCBA Relief Fund - The National Cattlemen's Foundation, meanwhile, is encouraging all NCBA members to make donations to relief efforts, indicating that funds will go directly to delivering supplies and services to ranchers needing to rebuild their homes. Among the contributors thus far: the Kansas Livestock Association, which donated $2,500. "KLA members feel a strong sense of responsibility to help our fellow producers trying to recover from this catastrophic disaster," said KLA President Tom Toll.

Katrina could affect ag markets - In addition to the widely reported effects of Hurricane Katrina on domestic fuel prices, the storm could have far-reaching effects on agricultural commodities and prices. The Port of New Orleans is one of the largest shipping ports in the United States and, with its location at the mouth of the Mississippi River, is key to grain shipments. River barges carry large quantities of corn and soybeans down the river each fall, much of it for shipment overseas. Harvest is yet to begin in the Corn Belt and the extent of damage to the port is still unknown. Long-term closure could increase transport costs for grain but also could reduce domestic farm prices. Another question yet to be answered is the extent to which the storm damaged crops in the Southeast.