up to 150,000 dead cattle in South Dakota

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

I hadn't been on this board for maybe a week; last week, we dealt not with snow here on the east side of the river but we did have 4+ inches of rain while our friends and neighbors in western South Dakota dealt with up to 55 inches of snow and wind. 
Very, very sadly, the weather forecasts came too late to move the million and a half head of cattle in the area to winter pastures and the weather forecasts didn't predict the up to 55 inches of snow and the up to 70 mph winds that came.  The carnage that resulted is unbelievable....not only the 150,000 head of cattle but also horses and sheep;
I have tried to document most of the articles and new reports concerning this tragedy on my facebook page "Pleasant Grove Farms".....

because of the government shut down, there is no assistance from the FSA or Ag agency....there is no office to report losses to and no monies yet available for disaster assistance until the new farm bill is approved.  Sadly, as the ranchers of the area discovered the horror of the reality they are faced with, they are also responsible to dispose of the dead livestock at their own expense.



There have been several grass roots movements to assist the ranchers.... one is taking money to assist, one is taking donated items ranging from flower arrangements to stud services on some of the most elite stallions in the US and another is taking donations of replacement quality heifer calves, bred heifers and cows.

I was so surprised that there was no post on here telling about this tragedy; everyone involved in ag needs to see this; it will affect us all down the road.

 

[RyanChandler]

There have been several grass roots movements to assist the ranchers.... one is taking money to assist, one is taking donated items ranging from flower arrangements to stud services on some of the most elite stallions in the US and another is taking donations of replacement quality heifer calves, bred heifers and cows.

Prior to this event, I wonder how many of those affected were in support of tax-payer-funded bailouts of the private sector?  I wonder how many are now? 

 

[Davidsonranch]

My heart and prayers go out to those who lost their livestock in the terrible storm.

But don't count on any relief from the government in any form.  We lost several thousand cattle last year in the wildfires of SE Oregon.  Especially the Barry Point fire near Lakeview OR and the large fire out by Frenchglen OR where hundreds of cattle were killed or burned to the point of being put down.  All of which was caused by Forest Service, BLM, US Fish and Wildlife and State firefighters in their "backburns" to put out the fire supposedly. The actual fire did not kill the livestock, the firefighters did by backburning and trapping the livestock between a wall of flames. Stories of the government giving ranchers 30 mins to move their cows.  Really?  Load up horses, gather, load, haul? Yet they torched it off anyway.  Got some dramatic pics of local buckaroos moving cows through the flames.  Every claim for negligence or assistance has been denied. Natrual Disaster what always their excuse. Anyway Im getting side tracked.

Stay strong South Dakota - we are thinking of you all.

 

[sue]

I just donated to  www.giveblackhills.org  it was quick and easy.
I am willing to donate any additional items or dollars to any other upcoming events. This tragedy is beyond words . You can sit back and wait for media  and government or just do something for this community  of Ranchers.  Thank you for posting I cannot imagine any of this . prayers and $100 are headed your way.  Please post any additional ways to donate to this cause.

 

[Medium Rare]

There have been several grass roots movements to assist the ranchers.... one is taking money to assist, one is taking donated items ranging from flower arrangements to stud services on some of the most elite stallions in the US and another is taking donations of replacement quality heifer calves, bred heifers and cows.

Prior to this event, I wonder how many of those affected were in support of tax-payer-funded bailouts of the private sector?  I wonder how many are now?

I doubt many of them are asking for a handout, unless it's a beer.  <beer>

The families in that area were some of the most strong, proud, and sustainable people I've ever met in any area of the country.  They understand the country they live in and expect the occasional beating from mother nature.  I have no doubt they will be fine with or without the governments help.

Hopefully mother nature gives them a chance to gather their thoughts before winter sets in and they accept some help to ease their minds.

 

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

you may find several sites on Facebook...

Heifers for S. Dakota

Atlas Blizzard Ranch Relief and Aid

here is probably the best story written that I have found yet...

http://realamericancowboymagazine.com/2013/04/17/ryan-mcconnel-on-the-pbr-comeback-trail/

 

[justintime]

I can hardly believe what I am hearing about the death losses from this storm. I read today that one rancher has counted over 500 dead cattle so far and will probably find more yet. Not only are there dead cattle, but there are cattle scattered for miles and miles. There were cattle roaming the streets of Rapid City. Many ranches cattle are all mixed together.
I heard that a quarter horse breeder that I have met had 28 dead horses when the storm ended. He lives about 4-5 miles east of Rapid City.
My heart goes out to everyone who has suffered losses, and I cannot understand why this tragic event has not received hardly any national coverage.
I live about 350 miles north of Rapid City and I really thought we were going to get it as well. The clouds were just south of us, and it was black right to the ground with some nasty white clouds that were moving extremely fast near the bottom. It looked really bad, and where it hit... it was! 

 

[Okotoks]

It's hard to imagine what they are going through. It makes you wonder because that could happen here with most of the cattle out on fall pasture right now. Tonight we are getting rain and I hope it stays liquid!

 

[BTDT]

The ranchers in SD are independent and self reliant.  I am sure they will be just fine. Just like the ranchers dealing with the fires out west and the cattleman in the Midwest that dealt with floods a few years back and the cattleman that dealt with hurricane Katrina.  And while too much rain/snow is a bad thing, do not underestimate the devastation of dealing with drought/no rain like the Midwest, and Texas and OK has dealt with the last several years.
Ranchers/cattleman are an independent lot. They usually don't like "help" or "handouts" or anything else they didn't earn. Those that can recover will. Those that can't, won't.  Harsh yes, but that has been the American way, up until the gov't decided to "help" everyone. And then everyone decided that couldn't do with that "help".  Then all of a sudden, the American way disappeared.

I will keep them in thoughts, and pray many will recover.

 

[chambero]

What specifically caused the death loss?  Did the snow drift so high it buried them when they huddled in fence corners, etc?  It was bound to be something besides the cold.

 

[Red Cow Relocators]

What specifically caused the death loss?  Did the snow drift so high it buried them when they huddled in fence corners, etc?  It was bound to be something besides the cold.

Robert, from what my friends tell me about it, the livestock had not grown any of their winter hair yet and were virtually unprotected from the harsh wind and snow in this freak storm. Some of them were wandering aimlessly in the storm and walked off of cliffs, into rivers, etc. One man I talked to went out into the storm to put some animals in the barn for shelter and he said the wind and snow literally took your breath away, worse than any of the coldest mornings he had ever been out in. I have also heard stories of cattle in canyons that were covered over and suffocated, stock in barns that collapsed under the weight of the snow, etc. Sounds like just about anything that could go wrong did. RCR

 

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

What specifically caused the deaths?

yes, no winter hair coats.
started out with 12 hours of soaking rains, then turned cold with up to 70 mph winds and 2 additional days of very heavy snow

the animals turned hypothermic

some died by walking off cliffs, some became tangled in fences, some drifted into creeks and streams where the water was warm compared to the air temps and a good many died from exhaustion.

 

[oakview]

My wife and I took her 80+ year old parents to a funeral at Timber Lake, SD, over the weekend.  We were well east of the major snow, but there were remnants of snow remaining in unprotected areas south of Eagle Butte.  I did see two dead horses and two dead cattle along a fence line and assumed that lightning struck near by and traveled down the wire.  By the time we drove through, it was almost impossible to tell what had happened.  It was nowhere near as bad in that area as it was further to the west and north.  I am almost ashamed that I didn't really understand what had happened until last night.  My prayers go out to all of them.

I will guarantee you one thing.  These folks will band together, pull themselves up by their boot straps, and get things done.  Much unlike the city of New Orleans where people are still standing around waiting for a bus ride out of town.

 

[SD Tarheel]

Has anyone heard how the Griswold herd faired?  Their Ranch in Dupree would be right in the path of the storm.  Maybe they had already brought them south for the Classic sale. 

 

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

please continue to keep the affected ranchers in your thoughts and prayers...

http://beefmagazine.com/business/cattle-death-toll-rises-atlas-blizzard-recovery-continues#slide-2-field_images-65922

 

[chambero]

I didnt think about the rain folowed by the freeze.  That would sure do it.

 

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

Almost 100 bred females and cows with fall born heifer calves at side already pledged through Heifers for S. Dakota......
everything is being donated, trucking, vet inspection...I have heard of pot loads being put together in Nebraska and Montana and Oklahoma.

If you give an animal, you may delegate who you want it to go to or Heifers for S. Dakota may choose if you don't say....but the recipient will be given the giver's name and contact information.  They are going to disperse the cows by severity of the loss, severity of the need by the individual rancher; all the cows will go to ranching families, not corporate ranches.

the donation is tax deductible as Heifers for S. Dakota will be approved as a non-profit probably in the next few days.

 

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013310120020&gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/cattle-losses-will-impact-prices/?id=154557#.Ulxup6cJyzQ.facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pledgeheifer

As of yet no acknowledgement of anything happening to those ranchers from our president and those in Washington, DC
However, the national media has FINALLY been running stories of the carnage.
The fear is out here that this will put many, MANY of these ranchers out of business....the young families who have cow loans and the older ranchers
who will just not want to restock and continue....
The effects of this are way not over; the surviving cattle are stressed; there has been another blizzard this past several days, not a terrible one, but stressful to those cattle that are survivors; how many momma cows have aborted their calves due next spring from the stress they have been under?

The effects of this will be felt for years.
Please join forces with the nation's cattlemen and women and get involved in giving these devastated ranchers a hand.

 

[vc]

Ryan, really, strait to politics, you can't show any compassion for your fellow rancher or the situation they are in, that is really sad.

I feel for those in the area and hope things get turned around before the real winter sets in. Like it was stated previously, strong people with strong resolve will persevere.

 

[Davidsonranch]

Keep up the hard work to those helping out!