Disaster Relief Fund

In an effort to help beef cattle producers affected by recent fires reported through the Nebraska Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Watch Center, Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund activated the disaster relief account and are accepting monetary donations until further notice.

The Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations made to the Disaster Relief Fund may be tax deductible – a receipt will be sent upon deposit of funds. Please consult your tax advisor for final determination.

Funds will only be distributed to producers who experienced property loss or damage in areas where a fire was reported through the Nebraska Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Watch Center. As of today, disaster declarations have been issued for Jefferson (Rock Creek Fire), Cherry (McCann Fire), Garfield (Lowry Fire), and Custer and Blaine counties (Cooksley Complex Fire). Membership in Nebraska Cattlemen is not required for applicants to receive relief. Applications may be submitted from today until further notice. Relief funds will not be distributed until the application period closes.

To apply for aid, please fill out this form. 

Please mail your check to the following address:

Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund
4611 Cattle Drive
Lincoln, NE 68521-4309

To donate online, you can click the donate button below to give to our PayPal account. Funds donated to our PayPal account will be transferred into the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund. Please note, a convenience fee for online donations may apply.

For any questions, please contact the Nebraska Cattlemen office at (402) 475-2333 or email [email protected].

 WILDFIRE RESOURCES

As wildfires are spreading across Nebraska, we are here to help our cattle community by providing you with the most up-to-date resources and ways you can help.

LOCAL LEVEL RESOURCES

If you would like to donate hay or fencing supplies for the Cherry County fire at Kilgore, please contact Ryan Sexson at (402) 389-1671.

4-13 Fire Department Appreciation Event

On Saturday, June 17, 2023 during Big Sky Jubilee at Anselmo Fire Hall (East Foster Ave., Anselmo, NE 68813) there will be a 4-13 Fire Department Appreciation Event to support sixty-four fire departments that responded to the railroad and lightning fires in Blaine and Custer County on April 13, 2023. The schedule is as follows: 

5:00 p.m. - Silent Auction 

6:00 p.m. - Barbecue

7:00 p.m. - Raffle Drawing

7:30 p.m. - Live Auction 

Contact the following with donations: 

Dave Lamb - (308) 643-9454

Jessi Mason - (402) 875-3168

Jim Scott - (308) 872-2757

Bonnie Winters - (308) 870-6761

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency

As critical fire weather remains in effect for Nebraska, be sure sure to monitor the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency’s website HERE. A fire dashboard is available HERE.  Road conditions can be monitored HERE.

Livestock Assistance

Livestock Forage Disaster Program provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire on land that is native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or that is planted specifically for grazing. Learn more about LFP.

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government. Learn more about LIP.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease (including cattle tick fever), adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, not covered by LFP and LIP. Learn more about ELAP.

Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) – provides livestock producers, who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program for forage losses due to severe drought or wildfire, emergency relief payments to compensate for increases in supplemental feed costs. No producer applications required. 

Assistance Available for Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by Wildfire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has funding available to assist agricultural producers whose land was impacted by recent wildfires. Landowners have until May 31, 2023, to apply for 2022 losses.

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding is available to help producers plan and implement conservation practices on farms and ranches impacted by natural disasters. EQIP funding is available to assist in this wildfire recovery effort by planting cover crops on impacted cropland and to defer grazing on rangeland.

The application signup for this wildfire assistance is happening now and will run through May 31, 2023. Applications will be assessed, and even though some lands may be eligible for assistance, it is not guaranteed that all acres will receive financial assistance due to limited funding.

Interested landowners and operators should contact their local NRCS office in the USDA Service Center for applications and more information.

Mental Health is crucial in tough times. We are here to help you! We have resources to help you through the good and bad times.

Rural Wellness is here

Rural Hotline is here

Communicating with farmers under stress with Susan Harris, watch here.

Hay and Forage Hotline 

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has opened a “Hay and Forage Hotline,” to connect buyers with sellers of hay, pasture, and other types of forage. This Hotline service is available to all buyers and sellers for free. The Department is providing this information as it has been given to us; the listing of individual names does not in any way constitute an endorsement of anyone or their respective product. The Hotline is merely designed to be a clearinghouse of information for producers in need.

The hotline number is (402) 471-4876. Sellers of available hay and forage can contact this number and have their name, contact information, and inventory placed on the “Sellers List,” which is updated regularly. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture will then make the “Sellers List” available to buyers by mail or by this website. Once buyers obtain this information they will be responsible for contacting the sellers directly to negotiate any transactions. Learn more here.

Farm Rescue

The mission of Farm Rescue is to help family farms and ranches bridge crises so they have an opportunity to continue viable operations. Farm Rescue provides planting, haying, harvesting, and livestock feeding assistance to farm and ranch families that have experienced a major injury, illness, or natural disaster.

Farm Rescue gives families a chance to continue their livelihood by providing the necessary equipment and manpower (free of charge) to get the job done.

Apply for assistance: https://farmrescue.org/apply/

FEMA ALERTS
In the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) app you can:
  • Receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide.
  • Share real-time notifications with loved ones via text, email, and social media
  • Learn emergency safety tips for over 20 types of disasters, including fires, flooding, hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, volcanoes, and more.
  • Locate open emergency shelters and disaster recovery centers in your area where you can talk to a FEMA representative in person.
  • Prepare for disasters with a customizable emergency kit checklist, emergency family plan, and reminders.
You can sign up for emergency text alerts and download the app from FEMA here.