Participants are sought for haylift

KEARNEY -- Coordinators of a relief project for drought-stricken Nebraska farmers and ranchers are seeking hay and grain and donations for transportation.

"Operation Hay and Grain Lift 2002" will distribute hay and grain throughout central and western Nebraska to help those who have lost their feed crops and pastures due to drought conditions, according to Kyla Martin, special projects coordinator for Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, Kearney.

Martin coordinated a similar "hay lift" project in 2000 between the Presbytery of Carlisle in Pennsylvania and the Presbytery of Central Nebraska, Kearney. That hay lift brought hay to 121 farmers/ranchers in 17 Nebraska counties.

Martin said Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has stepped forward with a large donation for transportation in Hay and Grain Lift 2002.

Martin is the contact person for this latest effort, and is seeking out-of-state hay donations and help with delivery coordination in Nebraska.

"Once out-of-state donations are found, transportation and/or donations for transportation are needed," Martin said.

The Community Action of Nebraska Network plans to organize educational seminars with Extension educators to help farmers and ranchers use alternative feeding methods and rationing, Martin said.

- To register to receive hay, call (402) 640-5528.

- To make a grain donation, call the Grain and Feed Association, (402) 476-6174.

- To make monetary donations, call Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, (402) 476-3391.

- To offer assistance and/or for more information, call Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, (877) 335-6422.

Hay and Grain Lift 2002 is being coordinated by the Nebraska Community Action Network, the Orphan Grain Train, several ecumenical groups and many agricultural organizations.