These ranchers need national attention!! First of all, they need financial assistance. For the amount of devastation they are facing, private donations are probably not going to be enough . . . unless we can get the attention and concern of some very wealthy donors. In this situation, Congress does need to pass a Farm Bill; and we all know that in order to do that, Congress is going to need to re-open the federal government.
These ranchers also need to know that this issue matters. In addition to the extreme loss they are facing . . consider facing something like this and knowing that most of your country has no idea what's happening.
All I can think to do is keep making our voices heard. These are just a few ideas for doing that -- some of mine, and some that I've gleaned from other people.
1. Write your Congressman and Congresswoman!! If you're not sure how to go about doing that, use this site: http://capwiz.com/nra/dbq/officials/. You can send a message electronically to all of your elected officials, and it takes only a few minutes. Just be sure to click the "compose your own message" radio button, and then to unclick the "send a copy to the NRA" option.
If you'd like, you can even just copy and paste my letter (below), and sign your own name. I'm not all that concerned about copyright here!
2. If you are a Facebook fan of any celebrity or national figure, visit their page to see if you can send them a personal message. If so, send one!! Who knows? You might get the attention of someone who will take a personal interest.
3. "Blow up" Facebook and Twitter with messages about the South Dakota blizzard and its after-effects. If you are on Twitter, use the hashtag #ranchersrelief. You can "like" the Rancher's Relief Fund on FB; the SD Stockgrowers Association and the SD Woolgrowers Assn. also have pages that will provide information.
4. Resist the temptation to play politics; nobody needs that right now.
5. Pray. Because even if these ranchers, by some miracle, are totally compensated for their losses, nothing will replace the generations' of work building these herds, or salve the loss of the animals they cared for. They need emotional and spiritual support as well as financial.
Please help! My letter is below .. . . .
-- Darcy
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October 11, 2013
Dear (Senator/Congressman/Congresswoman)
As you know, a week ago, Winter Storm Atlas hit the Rocky
Mountain and Great Plains region. The loss this monumental storm left behind is
staggering. In my opinion, the most
devastating loss is that of at least 20,000 cattle in western South Dakota.
South Dakota’s agriculture industry is the backbone of the
state, and because of the topography and vegetation west of the Missouri River,
that region is most suited to raising cattle. The cattle consume the abundant
grass and convert that resource into food to feed millions.
Last week, South Dakota’s ranchers were not prepared for a
storm of that magnitude this early in the year. South Dakota’s blizzards are
famous for their severity, and it is not uncommon to lose cattle to the extreme
cold, intense wind, and deep drifts of snow. Those types of storms, however,
tend to happen in mid-winter or early spring, when calves have been weaned and
healthy cattle have grown a protective winter coat. Therefore, while losses do
happen, they do not happen in these numbers.
Winter Storm Atlas combined freezing rain, gale-force winds,
and, in some places, over three feet of snow to wreak havoc on that part of the
state. The devastation to cattle herds came mostly because of the timing of the
storm: this early in the year, cattle had not yet grown heavy, protective
winter coats; most ranchers still had their cattle out on the vast, open
pastures where they grazed all summer; and those who had gathered their herds
had weaned the young calves from their mothers, a common fall job. Freezing rain followed by snow and wind caused
many cattle to simply freeze to death. Calves recently weaned from their
mothers had little endurance to survive. Cow/calf pairs still out on summer
pastures wandered ahead of the storm, dying in fences, along roadsides, or even
out in the middle of hay ground.
At this writing, the state veterinarian estimates that 20,000
cattle died, although he also warns that a final tally will not be available
for weeks. At an average value of $1000
for a weaned calf, and $1200 to $1500 for an adult cow, the financial loss
those ranchers have suffered will be a huge blow to their families, their
businesses, and the economy of western South Dakota. In addition to that
immediate loss, ranchers are now faced with the expensive task of disposing of
all the carcasses, and locating lost cattle.
Long term, the losses will continue: besides the death loss
of pregnant cattle, those that survived the storm may not have spontaneously
aborted due to the stress, so next year’s calf crop will be much smaller. Many ranches will not survive this loss.
There are emotional costs as well: ranchers feel responsible
for their livestock and pride themselves on taking good care of their animals.
To lose so many this way will devastate them, and there may be repercussions on
emotional health. In South Dakota, most ranches are family-run: the genetics
lost by the death of 20% to 50% of a ranch’s herd destroys generations of work.
Probably the heaviest emotional toll, however, is that the
national news has given little coverage to this disaster, and that our
government has not stepped in to offer assistance.
Please, please – do whatever compromising is necessary to
end this government shut-down. Then, as soon as the government re-opens, please
turn your attention to passing the Farm Bill so that these ranchers can get
financial assistance. Although no amount of money will compensate for the
emotional losses, money is desperately needed. Please help.
And please know that, by giving your attention to this
issue, you will be letting a decent, hardworking part of our country’s
population know that they matter, and that our nation supports them.
Sincerely,
Darcy Lipp-Acord
Weston, WY
