Utah activates emergency animal feed programme
Due to a series of wildfires in the state the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has received numerous requests from livestock owners for assistance because they have become unable to feed their livestock.
As a result, the UDAF have set up an emergency animal feed programme and together with the Utah Emergency Animal Response Coalition, have established the "Feed the Animals" account at Wells Fargo Bank. Here the public can make cash donations that will be used to purchase food and other animal needs.
In addition, there is an interactive website for the public to make donations, and for livestock owners to make requests for assistance. The web site is: http://www.uearc.org/ or via: www.ag.utah.gov/
"We have established this important fund to help our ranchers, and others, who have lost the ability to feed their animals," said Governor Gary Herbert. "This is an opportunity for Utahns across the state to pitch in and help our livestock owners remain in business and recover from this terrible fire season."
"An estimated 20,000 head of sheep and cattle have had their seasonal rangelands destroyed by fire in the past week," said Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food, Leonard Blackham. "The Feed The Animals Fund will help ranchers meet their short and long-term food needs," added Commissioner Blackham.
