A train with a huge snowblower attachment clears the
track on a railroad line just east of Sharon Springs,
Kan., which received three feet of snow in the latest
storm to hit western Kansas.
(Photo by Peggy Fischer for Western Times, Sharon Springs.)

Five GOP senators; Roberts, Wayne Allard of Colorado, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Pete Domenici of New Mexico and James Inhofe of Oklahoma joined in introducing legislation reauthorizing the Livestock Compensation Program that would allow aid for producers in those five states who suffered livestock losses as a result of the blizzards.

"Silly" regulations

For their part, FEMA said it needs more time to consider these additional public assistance categories after getting additional information from the state. FEMA officials were said to be holding meetings as of press time to determine whether the three states qualify for more aid.

What it boils down to is that FEMA is responsible for infrastructure disasters and USDA is responsible for agricultural disasters. Even though taxes come from one place, the taxpayer, federal monies are divided into different departments, each with their own area of responsibility for carrying out policy.

An example of the problem state officials are having in getting state help can be summed up in the plight of Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, and Prowers Counties of Colorado. Shortly after his inauguration Jan. 9, the new governor of the state, Democrat Bill Ritter, convened a meeting of agricultural, local affairs, emergency-management officials and lawmakers to discuss problems in southeastern Colorado from back-to-back-to-back snowstorms.

In an interview with The Denver Post, Ritter said one of the problems the state faces is that officials can't get to buried snow gauges to determine whether the counties meet federal requirements, which are based on a formula of how much snow fell compared with average.

George Epp, director of the state's emergency operations center, said it seems "silly" that FEMA can't determine there is a snow disaster when officials can't even find the gauges. But, he told the Post, FEMA has "a lot of complicated federal regulations they need to deal with, a lot of complicated federal laws. There's a lot of bureaucracy involved."

Ritter said the state has spent about $2 million so far on snow removal and relief efforts, and counties have spent millions more trying to get help and supplies to stranded ranchers and cattle.

Ranchers on their own

In a case similar to the old saying of Rome burning while Nero fiddles, cattlemen are left wondering if government officials plan to offer more assistance than dropping hay bales from National Guard helicopters.

While various reports of cattle death totals from the recent blizzards, with drifts up to 15 feet high, are making their rounds, officials from the Colorado Cattlemen's Association said it is too early for a final count.

"We still don't have final numbers, and probably won't for some time. Lots of them are still digging out, and searching; and some producers will continue to lose cattle well into the spring," said Traci Eatherton, CCA Director of Communications.

The executive vice president of the CCA, Terry Fankhauser, is estimating between 8,000 and 15,000 cattle deaths due to the storms by the time their final counts are completed.

"This equates to over $10 million in cattle alone and when we start looking at the economic impact, we are looking at hardships well into the new year," Fankhauser said. "Low birth weights, health issues, cows aborting, escalating hay prices, and more, will all contribute to the ultimate impact of the blizzard."

While the blizzard damage estimates are still unaccountable, Fankhauser said, the donations are starting to add up.

"The cattlemen helping cattlemen has been incredible. Louisiana Cattlemen's Association donated a sum of money to the Cattlemen's Fund through National Cattlemen's Beef Association," Fankhauser said.

"The National Western Stock Show has been raising money during their rodeos and handing out flyers. The list of emails and phone calls offering help, hay, and/or money continues to grow. It's been very humbling."

Feds found "frustrating"

"There are a lot of ranchers out there who are short on hay and concerned that they will be running out long before the end of winter," Eatherton said. CCA and CLA are taking hay donations and have local drop areas for storage.

"The help at the local and state levels has been there from the beginning, and is continuing, even with the sun shining. Unfortunately the help at the federal level has been disappointing," Fankhauser added.

While exceedingly frustrating, Fankhauser said CCA, as well as the Colorado Livestock Association and Colorado Farm Bureau continue to work toward federal disaster declaration and assistance for livestock producers.

"I can't begin to tell you the road blocks we have incurred. This further solidifies my belief that we must help ourselves. We must rely on ranchers helping ranchers," Fankhauser said.

Livestock producers may call the following numbers for questions as well as to offer and/or give assistance:

In Colorado: Colorado Cattlemen's Association (303) 431-6422.

In Kansas: Kansas Livestock Association (785) 273-5115.

In Nebraska: Nebraska Cattlemen (402) 475-2333.

In New Mexico: New Mexico Cattle Grower's Association (505) 247-0584.

In Oklahoma: Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (405) 235-4391

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Larry Dreiling can be reached by phone at 785-628-1117 or by e-mail at ldreiling@aol.com.

Date: 1/11/07