If there were an emergency warning system for livestock hay supply, Missouri would be in the red zone. "Recent ice storms that hit portions of Missouri have made it more difficult to feed livestock and available hay supplies are decreasing rapidly," says Fred Ferrell, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. "We are encouraging all hay producers that can spare portions of their supply to list their hay with the Missouri Hay Directory to help those in need."

The Missouri Hay Directory is a free publication designed to help farmers buy and sell hay. It lists producer names, phone numbers, amounts and types of hay for sale and bale size and shape. The publication is user-friendly and divides Missouri listings by counties along with listing out-of-state producers and truckers/dealers.

"With a few more months of feeding before spring season, our livestock farmers are looking for hay and we are doing everything we can to meet their needs," Ferrell says. Contact MDA's Hay Hotline at (800) 877-4HAY. The Missouri Hay Directory can be accessed at www.mda.mo.gov/Market/haydirectory.htm.  

Farm group seeks hay donations

Farmers in Iowa and other states are being asked to donate hay to aid cattlemen who were hard hit in recent weeks by blizzards in the High Plains. "Farmers helping farmers is nothing new," says Dennis Schlagel, executive director of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International. "Farmers have been helping each other long before there was FEMA or government disaster relief."

FCFI has a booth at the Iowa Power Farming Show in Des Moines, Iowa, January 30, 31 and February 1 promoting its hay lift fundraiser to help farmers in need of hay in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado.

Farmers in that region were hit by heavy snow, and bad ice storms twice in January. The storms buried fences and hay supplies, stranding or killing a number of cattle and worrying farmers and ranchers. Drifts were 9 to 15 feet high in a number of areas. FCFI is asking for donations in the form of large round bales, truck use or money. FCFI will provide the driving permits and diesel fuel.

"It's a great reciprocal thing we are doing in American agriculture," says Schlagel, "by helping each other in time of need." If you want to help out and make a donation of hay or money - go to www.fcfi.org or call John Adams, FCFI haylift coordinator at 502-241-4122.