The images of dead and dying cattle and calves as a result of the blizzard and flooding in Nebraska are hard for people in the livestock industry to see. As USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach said last week at the Agri-Pulse Policy Summit, “It’s almost like losing family.” Ibach is former Nebraska Director of Agriculture who says he is, “first and foremost, a rancher from Nebraska.”

Ibach is in Nebraska this week and participated in a Facebook Live roundtable on Monday to discuss flood relief for ag producers. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, state Director of Agriculture Steve Wellman, and other members of the state cabinet also took part in the roundtable. Listen to their opening remarks:
Nebraska Gov. Ricketts, USDA Under Secretary Ibach, State Ag Director Steve Wellman

Many organizations and individuals are working to assist cattle producers impacted by the weather disasters. Nebraska Cattlemen has a new disaster relief fund in place for the industry.

In the latest Beltway Beef podcast, Pete McClymont of the Nebraska Cattlemen gives us an update on the situation, and discusses how you can help those affected. “When you get down to the personal stories, loss of ground, loss of livestock…it kind of overwhelms you,” says McClymont. “We’re doing our best

In addition to monetary donations for the disaster relief fund, donations of hay, feed stuffs, fencing materials, volunteer help, equipment, and more are being coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. On Thursday, President Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the Nebraska counties of Butler, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Nemaha, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington.

Additionally, Nebraska Cattlemen is keeping an updated list of federal disaster assistance resources as well as other pertinent state regulations to consider during times of emergency.