After salt water covered this farm in Hancock County, Miss., Lucedale Stockyard delivered hay and protein blocks to the cattleman.

"As a native Mississippian and LSU graduate I am heart broken by what I am seeing in our states… it is so surreal to get out in the country, visit with our producers and see for yourself. What you don’t see on TV is what is happening in our rural agriculture communities. Thousands of head of cattle trapped on levees with no food or water, hundreds dying from ingesting salt water, dozens dead from falling trees and too many to count wandering the roadways.  Many of our farming families have had substantial damage to barns, equipment and fences.  Some have even lost their homes and still others are dealing with the greatest loss of all. Even the toughness and resilience of our producers can’t hide the pain of the devastation and losses. But, we can all help… this is not just a tragedy to the Deep South, but a tragedy to our nation. In our industry we are not big on asking for help, but we are always there for a neighbor in need. Now is one of those times and I am personally asking for all those farming and ranching families being impacted by Hurricane Katrina… please, contribute to the National Cattlemen’s Foundation Hurricane Relief Fund and help these families get back on their feet."

-Melanie Sojourner, National Cattlemen's Beef Association Southeast Field Representative

Mississippi Cattlemen's Association Monday Memo  (9/21/2005)

Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts - Summary to Date  (9/16/2005)

Beef Shipments On Their Way to Hurricane Affected Areas  (9/13/2005)

Mississippi Cattlemen's Association Monday Memo  (9/14/2005)

Cattlemen Stepping Up to Help Fellow Farmers and Ranchers, Evacuees  (9/7/2005)

National Cattlemen’s Foundation Accepting Donations for Hurricane Relief  (9/7/2005)

Phil Slay, Mike Pigott and the David Shivers family help the Michigan Baptist Disaster Relief Team serve meals at Tylertown Baptist Church in Tylertown, Miss.  The Shivers’ son Chris is executive vice president of the American Brahman Breeders Association.	Five days after the storm, NCBA field representative Melanie Sojourner, MCA officers, staff from the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the state/federal veterinary assessment team gather at two meetings in Pike and Walthall Counties to evaluate the needs of dairy producers there.