eHay Weekly Article - Gulf Coast Needs More Hay
This article first appeared here at eHay Weekly and was reprinted with permission.
Dairy and beef producers along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Mississippi are still in need of hay to help get through the winter after suffering devastating losses during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, says Rustin Moore of Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. “There is a tremendous need for hay to help with wintering cattle in the cow-calf operations and for some of the few remaining dairy cattle in south Louisiana,” Moore says. “Any support that could be provided through donations of hay and/or fuel for transport of this hay would be greatly appreciated and is much-needed for these hard-hit farmers.”
The Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (NAMA) has helped send 17 loads of hay to the area, according to Bernie Wrede, a hay producer from Pierce, NE. Wrede, a NAMA member and volunteer with the Orphan Grain Train disaster relief organization, has driven several truckloads of relief supplies and hay to the Gulf Coast area. He says Orphan Grain Train has obtained some money to help cover the costs of shipping the hay, but transportation costs have been a big obstacle during relief efforts.
The cattle industry in southern Louisiana is mainly made up of beef cow-calf operations and some dairy farms. Prior to the hurricanes, there were approximately 170,000 cattle in the parishes hit by Katrina and Rita, says Moore. Many cattle were lost due to drowning. An estimated 50,000 cattle either died or were dispersed from the area because of insufficient fencing and feed and hay shortages after the storms. An estimated 120,000 cattle remain in southern Louisiana alone.
“There is a real shortage of hay and pasture land for wintering of cattle,” Moore says. “Pastures are typically seeded with ryegrass for winter grazing, but since much of the land was covered with saltwater from the flooding, the grass has died and the pastures are not suitable for growing ryegrass.” He says hayfields that had not been cut prior to the storms were ruined. Hay that had been stored from early cuttings became completely submerged under flood waters and is not suitable for feeding. Many fences are down, which has led to overstocking of a few remaining pastures that were not damaged.
Wrede says both dairy and beef operations are being supplied with the donated hay. He says the quality of hay donated to date has been very good. Square bales are preferred, because it’s easier to meet transportation laws with square bales.
Recently, it has become apparent that there are also approximately 800 horses in Vermillion Parish in southwestern Louisiana that are in need of hay. According to the parish extension office, about 6,500 small square bales (or the equivalent in large bales) of horse-quality hay are needed to get them through the winter until spring pastures arrive. People specifically interested in donating toward the hay relief for horses should contact Moore directly by telephone (225-578-9500).