In the wake of devastating wildfires, Nebraska farmers are being offered a lifeline through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, which is allocating nearly 1,000 acres of state wildlife management areas for grazing and haying. This initiative aims to support agricultural producers whose lands suffered extensive damage this past March.
The Morrill and Cottonwood wildfires, which ravaged over 700,000 acres, left a trail of destruction, decimating dozens of structures and several homes. While the Nebraska Department of Agriculture is still assessing the impact on livestock, it’s anticipated that tens of thousands of cattle may be affected due to the abrupt loss of forage, as reported by emergency management officials.
Support for Affected Farmers
Between 800 and 1,000 acres will be available for those in the hardest-hit regions, according to Pat Molini, the Division Assistant Administrator of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “It’s literally just a drop in the bucket,” Molini acknowledged. “But it’s at least something. We’re trying to make an effort to help where we can.”
Interested farmers are encouraged to reach out to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to discuss potential grazing leases or hay tracts. Discussions will cover available acreage, forage quality, and fencing requirements before any lease agreements are finalized.
Timeline and Conditions
Efforts are underway to move cattle onto the allocated grazing lands immediately after the advertisement period concludes on April 12. However, haying is prohibited until after July 10 to protect nesting bird populations during their breeding season.
This initiative mirrors a similar effort during the 2012 statewide drought when the agency opened its lands for haying and grazing. The current focus, however, is on those directly impacted by the wildfires.
Community and Conservation
Molini highlighted that short-term grazing and haying are crucial for wildlife management, encouraging habitat diversity while ensuring some areas remain untouched for wildlife cover. Although the management areas are small relative to the disaster’s scale, the community’s response has been commendable.
“There’s many other Nebraskans, and even people and entities from other states, that have already been helping by providing hay and places to graze,” Molini remarked. “It makes you proud. But there’s still plenty of help needed.”
To learn more about this initiative, visit The Nebraska Game and Parks website.
