HORACE, N.D, March 18, 2024 – Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization that provides free planting, haying, harvesting, commodity hauling and livestock feeding assistance to farm families who have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster, is ramping up hay relief efforts in response to recent wildfires in the states of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
Farm Rescue is again activating “Operation Hay Lift” to haul much-needed livestock feed to ranchers affected by these natural disasters. In recent weeks, fire crews have worked tirelessly to gain control of the blazes, which have burned more than 70,000 acres of land in central Nebraska and over 1.5 million acres in the panhandle region of Texas and western Oklahoma. The organization is working to coordinate donated hay from surrounding states, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Initial funding for Operation Hay Lift is being provided by several major sponsors, including John Deere, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Anheuser-Busch. Farm Rescue is also calling for additional volunteer CDL drivers and monetary gifts to help support the campaign, which will last throughout the next several months, as funding and resources allow.
Affected ranchers are asked to fill out an application for hay hauling assistance, which can be obtained at farmrescue.org.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by these devastating wildfires,” said Bill Gross, Founder & President, Farm Rescue. “Please consider donating funds, hay or other livestock feed so we may deliver hope to these families in the midst of the crisis.”
Those wanting to apply for assistance, sign up to be a volunteer CDL driver or make a monetary donation can visit farmrescue.org or call 701-252-2017.
