TOPEKA, Kan. — The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension Service estimates cattle, feed and fencing losses at $26 million due to April wildfires in western Oklahoma. More than 348,000 acres and 2,100 miles of fence are estimated to have burned. Preliminary projections are that 1,600 head of cattle were lost.
Estimated losses include $16.4 million in fencing, $1.4 million worth of livestock, $6.3 million in burned facilities and $660,000 for burned pasture and hay. The totals do not include estimates for vehicles, equipment or homes destroyed by the fires.
KLA members can help their neighbors to the south by donating to the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation (OCF) wildfire relief fund. According to OCF, 100% of the donations will be distributed to affected ranchers within 90 days of when the fires were extinguished.
OCF is the charitable arm of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. Monetary donations can be made at www.okcattlemen.org or by sending a check to OCF at P.O. Box 82395, Oklahoma City, OK 73148. Write “fire relief” in the memo line on the check.
Those interested in donating hay, feed, trucking or fencing supplies should call OSU extension at (405) 496-9329, (405) 397-7912 or (405) 590-0106.
— Kansas Livestock Association
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