Over the past two weeks, truckloads of hay and supplies headed for the Livestock Supply Points in the Texas Panhandle in response to the wildfires that burned 480,000 acres.
But Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service officials will begin closing those supply points in the coming weeks as farmers and ranchers affected by the wildfires begin to get some perspective on the damage done.
The counties where the supply points are located have a plan to bring the efforts of volunteers and donors to a close, according to Danny Nusser, AgriLife Extension regional program leader in Amarillo.
“There are supplies still available for people affected by the fires to come pick up if they need them, and we will begin clearing those supply points out,” Nusser told AgriLife Today. “The people who have been helping volunteer at those locations are beginning to go back to school and to work, and we won’t have the help available after this week.”
Extension agents will begin shifting into recovery mode and schedule meetings in the near future to advise ranchers on long-term recovery, according to Nusser.
The supply point in Pampa will continue to run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the week and will suspend daily operation on March 24, according to Gray County Extension Agent Mike Jeffcoat and coordinator of the supply point.
Jeffcoat said after that supplies will be loaded by appointment only by calling 806-669-8033.
The total donations in Pampa included about 4,000 round bales, 785 large square bales and 1,300 small squares of hay, as well as about 700 rolls of wire and 5,000 t-posts, 130 tons of cubes and 31,450 pounds of different kinds of animal feed.
Jeffcoat said this location had between 15 and 40 volunteers a day. He said around one-third of the hay and half of the feed has been delivered.
The Livestock Supply Point in Hemphill County plans to close in the next three to four weeks, according to Andy Holloway, Hemphill County AgriLife Extension agent.
“We have about 700 big round bales of hay left, out of about 2,800 rolls that have been donated,” Holloway said. “We’ve sent that hay either directly to our producers or to one of two staging points throughout the county in the middle of the fire zone for producers to come get as needed.”
They will stop accepting donations of materials and hay on March 24, although financial donations may continue to be accepted on behalf of affected ranchers.
Lipscomb County AgriLife Extension Agent J.R. Sprague said they will stop taking supplies by March 24. Anything further should be scheduled through the county office at 806-862-4601.
Sprague estimated he has 80 tons of range cubes on hand that will be distributed until they are gone. He said fencing supplies are still short and in demand.
He said next week the people picking up supplies may have to load and unload it themselves.
Monetary donations will continue to be taken at Lefors Credit Union in Lefors, Happy State Bank in Canadian and FirstBank Southwest–Booker Branch in Booker.
General questions about donations and relief efforts should be directed to Lori Martin at 806-677-5628.