HOUSTON – Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) First Vice President Dave Scott joined Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples and other industry leaders today to call on Texans to help out with a new effort to rebuild ranches devastated by Hurricane Ike. "Operation New Fences" is a volunteer relief effort scheduled for Saturday, April 25, to rebuild approximately 17,000 miles of fence line destroyed by the storm in Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Liberty and Orange counties. Ranchers in these areas are still in need of water, fencing supplies and hay.
"TSCRA would like to thank Commissioner Staples for his ongoing support and efforts in coordinating Operation No Fences and now Operation New Fences, as well as all the industry leaders and volunteers who have tirelessly committed their time and supplies to help the people impacted by Hurricane Ike," Scott said.
"Hurricane Ike was devastating to everyone in its path, but particularly it was devastating to those ranchers on the Southeast Coast of Texas. Of approximately 30,000 head of cattle in the storm zone, some 20,000 were displaced after debris destroyed ranching businesses and fences were literally washed away. More than 10,000 head died from the impact of the storm or later from dehydration, sickness or starvation.
"Every cattle producer in the area was impacted in some capacity.
"Ranch land and cattle operations were devastated, and although the cattle industry is slowly rebuilding, many producers are still dealing with the loss of equipment, barns, fences and debris. On top of these hardships, adequate grazing lands and hay supplies are harder and harder to come by.
"TSCRA Special Rangers, staff and volunteers worked closely with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and the Texas Agri-Life Extension Service to provide hay and fresh water for displaced cattle. Through Operation No Fences, some 12,000 head of cattle were fed and watered.
"TSCRA Special Rangers worked to ensure care was taken for displaced cattle and that they were returned to their rightful owners. They inspected loading corrals, monitored truck and trailer movement in the counties and stayed in the area until all surviving cattle were returned to their owners.
"The combined effort from Texas ranchers, the industry, and state and local governments was remarkable, but not unexpected. We here in the cattle industry know what it means to work together to help each other out, which is why this continued effort is so important," Scott continued.
According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, prior to Hurricane Ike's landfall on Sept. 12, 2008, approximately 30,000 cattle roamed the five-county area in Southeast Texas. Today, only about 7,000 are able to graze the land because of the lack of fences and the high salinity content of the soil.
TDA is asking producers seeking assistance to sign up through the TDA Web site by visiting http://www.texasagriculture.gov and clicking on "Operation New Fences" or by calling 1-800-TELL-TDA. Texans wanting to donate items should visit the website as well. The deadline for submitting donation pledges is April 17, 2009.
Left to right: TSCRA Special Ranger Hal Dumas, Ag Commissioner Todd Staples, TSCRA First Vice President Dave Scott and TSCRA Special Ranger Jimmy Belt.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 131-year-old trade organization and is the largest livestock association in Texas. TSCRA has more than 15,000 members who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 51.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement services, livestock inspection, legislative and regulatory advocacy and educational opportunities for its members.
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