MISSOURI `HAY LIFT' TO HELP RANCHERS

Cattle whose food was decimated by prairie wildfires that swept through parts of Oklahoma and Kansas in recent weeks soon will be eating Missouri hay.

Gerald Bryan, University of Missouri Extension specialist at the extension's Jackson office, is organizing a statewide "hay lift" to assist ranchers whose pastures and hay were destroyed by wildfires.

"An estimated 600,000 acres have been affected in the two states, along with pastures and stacks of round-bale hay," said Bryan. "They have another 50 to 60 days before new grass, and their local supplies were already short because of a drought last summer."

Early estimates indicate that more than 100,000 cattle are affected by the hay shortage.

Local county extension centers and county Farm Bureau groups are cooperating in the effort to gather hay and donations for its transportation.

"Missouri farmers can look at their hay supplies and figure if they will have any hay left over this year," said Bryan. "Even if they have two, three or four bales to spare, that will be more than the burned-out ranchers have."

Two large fires in Creek County, Okla., burned more than 100,000 acres and destroyed a number of homes, barns and other outbuildings.

"Fifty-five counties suffered fire damages in Oklahoma," said Sherman Grubbs, an extension specialist with the Creek County extension. "A lot of ranchers out here will appreciate what Missouri is doing."

Grubbs said the Creek County fires occurred in late February, and the fire threat still looms.

"We had a smaller fire about 20 miles from our office Monday morning," said Grubbs. "Fortunately it was controlled."

With gusty winds and drought conditions, a no-burn order has been issued in Oklahoma and Kansas, where the no-burn order will continue through March.

Darryl Buchholtz of Kansas State Extension formerly worked with the University of Missouri Extension at Columbia. He said many Kansas ranchers were hard hit by the fires.

Bryan said he expects to ship the first load of hay this week. Although the program is designed for donations by Missouri hay growers, a rancher in Hutchinson, Kan., who escaped the fires, heard about the campaign and offered some hay for the burned-out ranchers.

"We're making arrangements for that hay to be shipped to other areas in Kansas," said Bryan.

Bryan has been in contact with extension agricultural specialists in the burned areas.

In Oklahoma, Conoco Oil Co. has agreed to donate some diesel fuel to truckers hauling the hay. The extension service also is asking railroads to donate transportation.

Bryan and Terry Buker of the Missouri Farm Bureau in Jefferson City are gathering and coordinating hay donations. Anyone with surplus hay may contact Bryan at the local extension center (573) 243-3581, or Buker at Jefferson City (573) 893-1467.

Hay from the immediate area will be taken to the David Schwab farm near Jackson. Schwab lives on County Road 435, about three miles north of Jackson.

"We're also taking donations to help fund the shipping of the hay," Bryan said.