|
Published: November 01, 2007 10:14 am
Tough row for area farmers and ranchers
By James Beaty
Senior Editor
It’s been especially tough on farmers and ranchers from Southeastern Oklahoma — who’ve had to contend with a severe drought and brush fires over the past few years, coupled with the severe ice storm last winter.
Weather and other factors beyond their control have resulted in losses for some through no fault of their own.
Even though the drought has now broken, many livestock producers suffered during the long, dry spell. Many lost acres of pastureland in fires and then saw their hay crops severely reduced during the years of drought.
Others lost livestock through the extreme weather conditions resulting from the ice storm.
To help them, the Farm Services Agency’s McAlester office at 200 S. Third St. is offering benefits through a couple of different programs. Producers in Pittsburg, Latimer and McIntosh Counties are eligible to apply.
One of the programs is for assistance due to forage or other feed losses caused by disasters from 2005 through Feb. 28, 2007. That would most likely include the loss of hay or pastureland as a result of the drought or from wildfires which raged through parts of the area.
“It’s to compensate producers for grazing losses they’ve had,” said Carl Patterson, executive director of the FSA office in Pittsburg County.
To be eligible, operators must have owned or leased specific livestock and suffered a forage loss during the time period.
Eligible livestock are beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Even deer, buffalo and elk might be eligible if they were physically located in the county at the beginning date of the disaster period. Animals kept for recreational purposes don’t count.
Money obtained through the program is in the form of grants — meaning it doesn’t have to be repaid.
“Payment is $10.60 for an adult cow or bull,” Patterson said.
Calves that weigh at least 500 pounds count for an $8 payment, he said. Applicants will need to have the following information ready:
• Legal descriptions and type of pasture owned or leased in 2005 and 2006.
• Copies of land rental agreements, lease statements signed by landowners or copies of canceled checks for 2005 and 2006.
• Copies of fertilizer tickets and livestock sales for 2005 and 2006.
• The number of adult beef cattle, both cows and bulls, owned on Jan. 1, 2005, or July 1, 2005, and Jan. 1, 2006. Numbers are also needed for the number of calves weighing 500 pounds or more on those dates.
The FSA needs the livestock counts for both years to determine the payment most beneficial.
Meanwhile, the Livestock Indemnity Program is under way to help area ranchers and farmers who lost livestock because of the bitter weather and ice storm last winter.
It’s designed to cover livestock losses “that resulted from natural disasters, including losses due to blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into January 2007.”
To qualify for the Livestock Indemnity Program, several conditions must be met:
• The livestock must have died as the result of an eligible disaster event, which for this program includes winter weather such as the ice storm, but not the drought.
• Livestock that died as a result of low water in a pond or being stuck in the mud are not included in the program.
• The animals must have been maintained for a commercial farming operation on the day they died.
• Animals maintained for recreational purposes, such as pets, for roping or animals for hunting, are not eligible.
• Producers must have legally owned the livestock on the day the animal, or animals, died.
Contract growers may also be eligible.
Those who would like to apply for either of the programs can do so at the FSA office, open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
“We’re asking people to make appointments,” Peterson said. Appointments can be made by phoning 423-4073, ext. 2.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.
|
|
|
|
 |
Tire Tech needed.
Competitive pay must have valid D.L & transportation. Benefits include: insurance, vacation, & retirement that’s 100...>MORE
Do you like to write?
Do you enjoy telling stories?
Are you computer
savvy? Would you like to work side by side with a group of ...>MORE
ARE YOU A SPORTS FANATIC?
If you love high school sports and want to share your enthusiasm, consider joining the McAlester News-Capital Team. We’r...>MORE
Happy Days Motel
now hiring for Desk Clerk for the Midnight to 8am shift. Please apply in person. Hwy 69 Bypass South across from Stoc...>MORE
Sat. Only 8am
Garage sale
Old quilts, quilt books, glassware, housewares, nick knacks, xmas decor, porch furn., 1 Remington Bron...>MORE
Beare Manor
now hiring LPN’s with new wage scale and new nursing management. If interested please apply in person at 1300 North Dri...>MORE
City of Savanna
now hiring for seasonal employees for mowing & trimming. Pickup up application at 104 Gilbertson St. in Savanna. ...>MORE
Red Oak Schools
has an opening for a secondary
English/Speech and Drama Teacher
for the 2009-2010 school year.
Intere...>MORE
Experienced sales
PROFESSIONAL
169 yr. old lubricant co. seeks exp. sales person to work as indep. contractor. Ex line of ag, ind, a...>MORE
NEW COMPANY
SEEKING FINANCE
MANAGERS!!!
Do you have experience in financing? We offer benefits
and training!
F...>MORE
See all ads |
SEWER & DRAIN Service
McAlester Plumbing 426-4519...>MORE
Chicken Fried Steak Dinner $2.49 +tax.
Tuesdays at KFC. Cole slaw, mashed potatoes, gravy & biscuit included. ...>MORE
Brandy Satterfield,
NLMT Massage. Special: Prepay for 5 massages, get 1 free. Prepay for 10 massages and get 3 free. $40/hr or $1 a minute....>MORE
Terry & Johnny’s tree service.
Tree trimming and removal, stump grinding, 40’ bucket truck, fully insured. 470-9547 or 470-9915...>MORE
PACE AIR
for Spring service & repair. 426-4519...>MORE
McAlester Landfill
will be closed on Saturday July 4th to observe Holiday also there will be no trash pick up on Sat. July 4th. ...>MORE
Atoka Livestock, LLC.
Will have a sale on Monday, July 6, 2009. Next horse sale is July 10, 2009. Tack @ 5pm & horses @ 7pm. Hope everyone h...>MORE
For sale or lease:
large 3 bed. home. Call 918-429-0040...>MORE
Car bodies
$60ton, Alum. cans 25¢ lb Scrap Corp. 429-0505...>MORE
Need a special present?
Check out Bear’s Candy
Creations
for all your unique gift needs. Open Mon.-Sat. 10-6. 219 E. Chickasaw 918-...>MORE
See all ads |
TASTEFULLY REDECORATED
3 bed, 2 3/4 bath, formal living, formal dining, den & oversized 2 car garage @ 2205 Cardinal Lane in McAlester. Larg...>MORE
Very Nice
large 1 bedroom apartment. $400/mo., $300/dep. water paid, references required. 423-9398...>MORE
3 bed. 2 bath
quiet area, nice clean manufactured home. $800/mo. McAlester. 429-9753 or 429-9754...>MORE
Brick 3 bed. 1 ba.
with washer/dryer hkups, at Lone oak on 1 acre. Avail. 7/1/09. $750 + $750 deposit. Refs. req. No smoking. 297-3581 or ...>MORE
7th & Hereford
large corner lot for mobile home or RV. Storage build., $200/mo. + utilities. Call 918-423-9137...>MORE
1995 Fleetwood Mobile Home
new laminate flooring and carpet, new appliances, and a new roof with 3 inches of insulation, very nice home. $13,500. ...>MORE
For Rent
2 bedroom newly remodeled, $850/mo. Call 918-302-6781...>MORE
For Rent
3 bed., 2 1/2 bath, fenced back yard, garage. side by side fridge/freezer, stove & dishwasher. Ask about pets. $650/mo.,...>MORE
2 bdrm.
CH&, DW, $450 + dep. Krebs. 423-7556 or424-2487...>MORE
ROOM FOR RENT
in my north town home. Prefer male, 21-40. $350/mo. Bills paid. Room has twin bed & dresser. Quiet. Clean. 470-4813...>MORE
See all ads |
Garage/Estate Sale Fri. & Sat.
July 3 & 4, 6am
211 W. Bolen Ave. Baby furn., home decor, tool chest, fishing gear, nice furn., new items both d...>MORE
Garage sale
Fri. & Sat. Starts 7am
Five Mile Rd.
S. of Kiowa on Hwy 69, turn right on Hwy 131 go 1.5 miles turn left on ...>MORE
Garage sale
Sat. & Sun. 6am
203 E. Polk
Washer, dryer & lots of misc....>MORE
7th & Taylor,
Kiowa, OK. Fri. only 7am-7pm Good school clothes, furniture, dryer & misc. ...>MORE
Inside Family Sale
Saturday 7-1
400 S. 2nd
Lots of Good Stuff! ...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
