Assistance is coming from state, federal and county levels
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
As wildfires continue to tear through different parts of Idaho, communities are coming together to help those affected – especially farmers.
As of Saturday, August 15th, it’s estimated that the Soda Fire, the largest wildfire in the United States, has burned nearly 265,000 acres of land in Idaho and Eastern Oregon. The Lawyer Complex fire has burned another 12,000 acres in parts of Northern Idaho.
The Owyhee Cattlemen’s Association is collecting different kinds of donations from hay, fencing and trucking, to any sort of service someone wishes to provide. They are also collecting monetary donations and checks can be made out to Owyhee Cattleman’s Heritage Foundation. The U.S. Bank has also set up an account to receive monetary donations.
The Idaho Cattle Association is ready to provide information on cover crop pasture exchange, while the Idaho State Department of Agriculture has provided a list of resources as well.
Once the fires have been contained, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will visit the damaged sites and help farmers get back on their feet.
“NRCS is planning to assist with all the fire damages occurring within Idaho,” NRCS State Conservationist Curtis Elke said in a release. “Once the fires are contained, my staff and I personally plan to visit the site and assess the damages and obtain an inventory need with the ranchers and farmers.”