Ranchers to get hay relief
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HOW TO PLACE A HAY ORDER
Contact the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at 442 Foster Field Drive at the Victoria Regional Airport.
No phone orders allowed.
Orders will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Orders should be made between ...
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HOW TO PLACE A HAY ORDER
Contact the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at 442 Foster Field Drive at the Victoria Regional Airport.
No phone orders allowed.
Orders will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Orders should be made between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
Estimated delivery is the week of Sept. 21 or later.
They're calling it Victoria County Operation Hay Lift II, but the ranchers could be calling it a lifesaver.
A group of Victoria County residents has located at least 800 bales of hay in Arkansas and made arrangements for Union Pacific to deliver it for free.
There's a potential for another 2,400 bales to be made available later.
"I hope this will help the local ranchers out in a time of need when they're truthfully trying to hang on to what they've got," said County Commissioner Kevin Janak, one of the group members who arranged for the shipment.
The announcement was made in a commissioners court meeting Monday and members of the court have been involved individually.
But County Judge Don Pozzi said it is not something that was sanctioned by the court and it didn't involve county tax money.
"We know certainly this will be a considerable help to the farmers and ranchers in the area," he said. "I wish them the best of luck."
Gary Loest, chairman of the group, said hay orders will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis and only Victoria County ranchers and producers can order hay.
"This is a Victoria County effort," he said. "That's why we're sticking with that."
The price will be $35 per round bale and payment must be made with a local money order or cashier's check made out to Victoria Hay Lift Inc. Cash, credit cards and personal checks will not be accepted.
Each rancher is limited to 30 bales; payment must be made when the order is placed.
"We will let you sign up for future orders if they pan out," Loest said. "It's pretty promising they will."
Union Pacific will provide 20 to 30 boxcars to deliver the hay to the port of Victoria, where it will be distributed. Those getting hay are responsible for picking it up and moving it.
"We can use volunteers for shuffling hay around at the unloading site," Loest said. Anybody with tractors or similar equipment will be allowed to help, he said.
County Agent Joe Janak said the effort began after one of his columns in the Advocate reported $30 million in losses because of the drought. He also reported that during a drought in 1986, local ranchers and farmers donated 13 railcars of hay to people in the eastern United States.
Kevin Janak read that and began working with Joe Janak to get a committee formed to do something similar that would benefit Victoria County producers.
Kevin Janak said there won't be much hay produced locally because of the drought. But the large community effort and rail shipment will now make it possible for some to get hay, he said.
"It's very heartening," he said. "I really do appreciate all the help the community has provided."
Comments
Whatever it takes to save the industry in South Texas, which translate to saving South Texas ranchers and families. Thanks UP!!
September 1, 2009 at 5:57 p.m.Good deal as long as no tax dollars are involved.
August 31, 2009 at 8:45 p.m.