Alabama Truckers Needed to Take Hay to Texas
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More volunteer truckers in Alabama are needed to deliver hay to feed Texas livestock stricken by the recent Panhandle wildfires in relief efforts coordinated by the Alabama Trucking Association, cattle ranchers and the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.
“During any crisis, truckers answer the call. When we reached out to Alabama truckers to solicit their help to deliver much-needed hay to Texas, the response was immediate: ‘Just tell us when and where,’ ” said Mark Colson, president and CEO of the ATA.
ATA member companies DMT Trucking (which works out of five terminals in the state) and Clayton-based Boyd Bros. Transportation Inc. have quickly delivered the first of several loads to drop stations in the Lone Star State after the effort began March 19 with more planned, ATA spokesman Ford Boswell said March 26.
“However, the situation is still critical. At this time, we are in serious need of more trucks to deliver the hay we have,” Boswell said.
More than 1.5 million acres of prime cattle land were incinerated where 85% of the state’s cattle live.
More than 85% of Texas' cattle were affected when more than 1.5 million acres of pasture land were scorched by the Panhandle wildfires. (Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries)
“Early estimates report more than 7,000 head of cattle deaths due to the fires. The final number directly related to the fires could reach 10,000. The true total may not be known for months, as ranchers may consider euthanizing cattle who have suffered severe injuries,” the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries noted.
ADAI has joined with ATA and the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association to help impacted Texans.
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“I reached out to my counterpart, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, to express my sympathy for their loss of thousands of cattle and millions of acres of pastureland and offer Alabama’s assistance during this disaster,” ADAI Commissioner Rick Pate said. “We have committed our resources to help provide Texas farmers with hay for their cattle during this devastating time along with our partners at ACA and ATA. When I reached out to the associations, they did not hesitate to offer their services.”
A vital part of Alabama’s relief effort is providing transportation of donated hay to Texas, which ATA has stepped up to help.
Colson
“We stand in solidarity with Commissioner Pate, Commissioner Miller, the Alabama and Texas cattlemen, and all of those who have been impacted by this natural disaster. The trucking industry in Texas, led by my friend John Esparza [CEO of Texas Trucking Association], has been on the front lines helping those in need, and we are proud to play a small role in helping bring relief to our friends there,” Colson said.
Alabama officials have established a website for people willing to donate hay by the truckload or individual bales: www.BamaBeef.org/TXrelief.
“If you do not have hay available but are still interested in helping the farmers in Texas, you can make a tax-deductible donation on the same website,” ADAI noted.
Alabama’s hay drop off locations
• Alabama Livestock Auction: 800 U.S. Highway 80 East, Uniontown.
• Baldwin County Coliseum and Fairgrounds: 9477 Fairground Road, Robertsdale.
• Cullman Agricultural Center: 17645 U.S. Highway 31, Cullman.
• Frisco City Stockyard: 20 Houston St., Frisco City.
• Northwest Alabama Livestock: 14330 Alabama state Route 243, March 29-30 in Russellville.
For questions related to hay donation, contact Reid McGuire at ACA at (334) 265-1867 or reid@bamabeef.org.
Trucking industry representatives who want to help can contact Susan Seymour at ATA: sseymour@alabamatrucking.org.
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