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Nebraska officials outline resources for livestock producers affected by wildfires

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen says all options are on the table to support livestock producers affected by wildfires.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, he said one of his goals is keeping the cow herd in the state despite. “By the square miles of (rangeland), it potentially could be 40,000 momma cows that need some help. Some of them could be dry lotted, but that is less than ideal.”

An outbreak of wildfires that began on Thursday has burned more than 800,000 acres in central and western Nebraska. The Morrill County Fire, the state’s largest, has covered nearly 600,000 acres.

He says he’s asked USDA for emergency relief for grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. In a recent social media post, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says the department is working to provide regulatory flexibility for producers. USDA did not respond to a request for comment from Brownfield.

Ag Director Sherry Vinton says the state is developing a package of tools that will help producers maintain herds. “We want to grow that resource, and we want to find a combination of answers like signing an executive order to help bring more feed in easily.”

Producers who need hay, feed, fencing materials, volunteer help, equipment, etc. should contact the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

The Nebraska USDA FSA says producers who have suffered excessive livestock death, grazing or feed losses may be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program and/or Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program.  

To donate visit NDA’s website or Nebraska Cattlemen.