A month ago this weekend, Northeast Wyoming and especially West South Dakota
were hit hard by an early winter blizzard named Storm Atlas. Last night, I heard
from the Bishop of Rapid City, Bishop Robert Gruss, just how devastating the
storm was to local livestock growers in his area. Hit particularly hard were
the ranchers of beef cattle.
As a neighboring bishop, and as President of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, I wish to
express our fraternal and prayerful support for all the ranching families who
experienced the full force of nature in this storm. My friends, you are not
alone! On this Solemnity of All Saints, the People of God are with you in
prayer and in Spirit.
The statistics of the losses incurred by so many ranchers is breath-taking, and heart-breaking. Estimates of cattle losses range greatly across all areas affected (Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and parts of North Dakota). Final estimate of losses are still being compiled. It is important to remember that there were also heavy losses to sheep herds and horses.
The economic impact of this storm will be felt for some time well into the future. Sadly, many of these cattle would have been sold within weeks after the storm. Not only were many calves lost, but also the herd genetics family ranchers have built over generations will take another generation to rebuild, if indeed the families are able to survive at all. For a good treatment on the full impact to the cattle ranching families, see the following article on the South Dakota State Extension website.
Read the rest here: http://bishopsblog.dioceseofcheyenne.org/2013/11/01/south-dakota-ranchers-need-our-prayerful-support/
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| One month after the storm, these cattle still need to be removed from a stream where they took shelter hoping to get out of the killer winds. |
The statistics of the losses incurred by so many ranchers is breath-taking, and heart-breaking. Estimates of cattle losses range greatly across all areas affected (Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and parts of North Dakota). Final estimate of losses are still being compiled. It is important to remember that there were also heavy losses to sheep herds and horses.
The economic impact of this storm will be felt for some time well into the future. Sadly, many of these cattle would have been sold within weeks after the storm. Not only were many calves lost, but also the herd genetics family ranchers have built over generations will take another generation to rebuild, if indeed the families are able to survive at all. For a good treatment on the full impact to the cattle ranching families, see the following article on the South Dakota State Extension website.
Read the rest here: http://bishopsblog.dioceseofcheyenne.org/2013/11/01/south-dakota-ranchers-need-our-prayerful-support/
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