MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) is leading an effort to provide hay for Texas cattle producers who have suffered catastrophic losses due to the recent wildfires in the Texas panhandle. ADAI is partnering with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) and the Alabama Trucking Association (ATA) to help our fellow cattlemen in Texas who are in desperate need of resources.
Just one of the fires, the Smokehouse Creek Wildfire, is the largest recorded in Texas, the second largest fire in the nation’s history, and is larger than the top 20 largest wildfires in California over the past 90 years. This fire alone decimated over one million acres.
“I reached out to my counterpart, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, to express my sympathy for their loss of thousands of cattle and millions of acres of pastureland and offer Alabama’s assistance during this disaster,” said Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Rick Pate. “We have committed our resources to help provide Texas farmers with hay for their cattle during this devasting time along with our partners at ACA and ATA. When I reached out to the associations, they did not hesitate to offer their services.”
Early estimates report more than 7,000 head of cattle deaths due to the fires. The final number directly related to the fires could reach 10,000. The true total may not be known for months, as ranchers may consider euthanizing cattle who have suffered severe injuries.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Alabama Commissioner Rick Pate and the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries for their generous donation of hay in the wake of the Texas Panhandle wildfires,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said. “This act of solidarity underscores the strength of our agricultural community and the importance of standing together in times of need. We have received unwavering support from our fellow state departments of agriculture and their assistance has been instrumental in navigating the road to recovery during this challenging time."
Even though the wildfires are now contained, the path of devastation burned over 1.5 million acres of prime cattle land. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, more than 85 percent of the state’s cattle population is located in the Panhandle where the wildfires occurred.
ACA has established a website for farmers who are willing to donate hay by truckload or individual bales, https://www.bamabeef.org/p/about/wildfirerelief. If you do not have hay available but are still interested in helping the farmers in Texas, you can make a tax-deductible donation on the same website.
“Cattlemen helping cattlemen is something we know all too well in Alabama. The Alabama Cattlemen's Association is proud to come alongside Commissioners Pate and Miller and the Alabama Trucking Association to assist our cattlemen friends in Texas as they recover from this historical natural disaster.”
Hay drop point locations are listed below:
Alabama Livestock Auction (800 US Hwy 80 E, Uniontown, AL 36786)
Baldwin County Coliseum and Fairgrounds (19477 Fairground Rd., Robertsdale, AL 36567)
Cullman Agricultural Center (17645 US Highway 31, Cullman, AL 35058)
Frisco City Stockyard (20 Houston St., Frisco City, AL 36445)
Northwest Alabama Livestock on March 29 & 30 (14330 AL-243, Russellville, AL 35654)
A vital part of this relief effort is providing transportation of the donated hay to Texas. ATA has stepped up to meet that need. They are the dominant transportation source in Alabama, transporting more than 80 percent of total manufactured tonnage in the state.
“During any crisis, truckers answer the call. When we reached out to Alabama truckers to solicit their help to deliver much needed hay to Texas, the response was immediate: ‘just tell us when and where,’” said Mark Colson, president and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association. “We stand in solidarity with Commissioner Pate, Commissioner Miller, the Alabama and Texas Cattlemen and all of those who have been impacted by this natural disaster. The trucking industry in Texas, led by my friend John Esparza, has been on the front lines helping those in need, and we are proud to play a small role to help bring relief to our friends there.”
For questions related to hay donation please contact Reid McGuire at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association at 334-265-1867 or reid@bamabeef.org.
For any trucking industry representatives that would like to assist in this effort, please contact Susan Seymour with the Alabama Trucking Association at sseymour@alabamatrucking.org.
For media inquiries or more information about the Texas hay relief project, please contact, ADAI Communications Director Amy Belcher at amy.belcher@agi.alabama.gov or 334-240-7126 or ADAI Assistant Director of Communications Laura Jean McCurdy at laurajean.mccurdy@agi.alabama.gov or 334-240-7127.