Michael Kelsey:
The executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association says several producers are picking up the pieces after a devastating wildfire this week.
Michael Kelsey says the Ranger Road fire has destroyed nearly 285,000 acres in the Oklahoma panhandle and southwest Kansas. “There are some big ranches up there and they’re still going to find those cattle. Hopefully they hunkered down in a canyon, but they have to go find them. Anecdotally, we’ve heard of some individual losses that are pretty staggering. One gentleman has lost 400 cattle so far.”
He tells Brownfield hay will be an immediate need, but it must be tested. “The managing of the transporting, and getting it in, plus if they hay is coming from the south, we have the fire ant that we need to think about. Those are some of the things that need to be considered as we target some of those resources.”
He says pastureland has been lost, but early spring rains could help it recover. “That doesn’t mean that the grass is ready for cattle to be on it. Sometimes fire can damage the crown of the native grasses and need longer to recover.”
Kelsey says producers are also in need of cash, which will help each operations’ individual needs.
The association has opened its Foundation Fire Relief fund, which will distribute 100 percent of the funds received to impacted producers. Visit okcattlemen.org.
