|
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Hurricane Katrina left downed fences, drenched pastures and damaged farm buildings in its wake. Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer is calling on all Kentuckians to reach out to farmers in the area ravaged by the hurricane.
Between now and Oct. 7, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture will collect new farm supplies and livestock feed for farmers in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi who were affected by the hurricane. As part of the effort, the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association will collect cash and credit card donations that will be used to buy needed supplies to supplement donated items.
“One of Kentucky’s finest traditions is that of neighbor helping neighbor,” Commissioner Farmer said. “I’m proud to say that several Kentucky farm organizations are reaching out to their fellow farmers in need. Now I ask all Kentuckians to pitch in.”
“People from other states have helped us in the past with droughts, forest fires, ice storms and other emergencies,” Commissioner Farmer said. “Now it’s our turn to help.”
Roger Jones, an official of nonprofit Heifer International who lives in Hattiesburg, Miss., said there are so many downed trees in his area that it will take months to dispose of them and replace all the downed fences. Feed is needed to supplement pastures that have been devastated by storm water and debris.
New farm supplies being collected include:
- Barbed wire
- T-posts or wood posts
- Chain saws (for clearing storm debris)
- Electric fence chargers (solar and electric)
- Electric fence wire, posts and related supplies
- Fence post drivers
- Brace wire
- Gates, 12-foot and 16-foot
- Woven wire
- Bagged livestock feedHay rings
- Water tubs
The items will be collected at the following locations statewide (listed west to east):
- Murray State University Livestock and Exposition Center, 2101 College Farm Road, Murray – 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday (after hours by appointment); (270) 762-3125 or (270) 762-3328
- Western Kentucky University L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center, Elrod Road, Bowling Green – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday or by appointment; (270) 843-3542 or (270) 791-9416
- Otis Bryant and Son, U.S. 62, Caneyville – 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday; (270) 879-3221
- Densified Solutions, Magnet Drive (off U.S. 62), Elizabethtown – 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday; (270) 765-4121
- Kentucky Department of Agriculture, 107 Corporate Drive (off Ky. 1681), Frankfort – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday; (502) 573-0282
- University of Kentucky Maine Chance Farm (Spindletop), 2099 Newtown Pike, Lexington – 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday; (859) 255-3147 or (859) 509-2967
- Eastern Kentucky University Meadowbrook Farm, Whitt Road, Richmond – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday; (859) 622-1310
- Morehead State University Derrickson Agricultural Complex, Ky. 377, Morehead – 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday; (606) 783-2649 or (606) 783-2662
Customers may encourage local businesses or farm supply stores to take orders for supplies to donate to the relief effort. Kentucky Department of Agriculture field personnel will pick the donations up to deliver them to the collection points. Donors may request a receipt for tax purposes. Contact the Department toll-free at 1-888-567-9589 for more information.
The supplies will be transported to Mississippi and Louisiana, where representatives of Heifer International, the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service, and the Mississippi state veterinarian’s office will distribute them to farmers in the three states. The University of Kentucky is supplying trucks to deliver the donated items to Mississippi.
Tax-deductible donations may be made to the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, 176 Pasadena Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. Donors are asked to write your checks to “KCA Katrina Fund.” To make a credit card donation, call the KCA at (859) 278-0899.
Other partners include Kentucky 4-H, Kentucky FFA, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Anderson Circle Farm, the Hardin County Cattlemen’s Association, the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, the Kentucky Pork Producers Association and the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is continuing to monitor the situation in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, and will plan future donations and work crews as needed.
For more information, call the Kentucky Department of Agriculture toll-free at 1-888-567-9589 or check the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Web site at www.kyagr.com.
--30--
|
