ENERGENCY CALL FOR HELP FOR STORM RELIEF
Your HELP NEEDED ASAP!
Flooding in Whatcom and Skagit has been devastating, with 1200 homes damaged in Sumas, 75% of businesses and homes damaged in Everson, dairies completely flooded, livestock losses, stranded cattle, workers unable to reach farms, and the EPL feed plant left inoperable.
The EPL feed plant serves dairy farm operations from the Canadian border down past Lewis County. Losing the plant operation affects dairies across all of Western Washington.
Supply chains are further troubled by 15 breaks in the BNSF rail line. Conditions are worse in Canada, so we have no resources available from there.
More than 100,000 milking cows, additional dry cows, and additional young stock are at risk of running short of feed due to the storm in Whatcom and Skagit.
Initial Needs Survey says many farms are 1-2 days from being out of feed. If the farms can’t get their Total Mix Ration for their cows, some feed will help them keep the cows on a maintenance or survival ration. Grains are most needed.
Greatest Needs:
1. Trucks and Drivers to Get Materials to EPL Feed in Sumas
Jason Hoekstra at EPL Feed is struggling to bring the plant back to full operational levels, sourcing electrical parts from across the nation. TRUCKS and DRIVERS are needed immediately. They are trying to get feed materials from Spokane and Oregon but can take it from just about anywhere.
They need drivers and trucks with a belt or walking floor trailer.
If you can help, contact Jason Hoekstra, CEO of EPL Feed at his cell 910-360-7833 or email
JasonH@EPLFeed.com.
2. Farm-to-Farm Deliveries of Feed to Whatcom or Skagit County.
This is best coordinated through Fred Likkel, who works with Dairy Federation, Whatcom Family Famers and Save Family Farming. He is on the ground in Whatcom County. Trucks, trailers, and drivers are needed in addition to any feed delivery. Belt trailers, hopper bottoms, dump trailers are all options here. We can get you matched to a farm that can take the load and use it or mix it on site.
2. Cash Donations
We have established an assistance fund at Washington State Dairy Federation. Funds will be used to help cover transportation, emergency assistance, cleanup, repairs, provide supplies, and any other needs that are identified. There could possibly be a later request for herd replacement donations, however the focus for now is on cash donations.
Checks can be written to Dairy Federation, with “emergency fund” as a note on the check. Mail to P.O. Box 1768, Elma, WA 98541. We’ll set up a GoFundMe site soon. Checks in the mail are the best option for now. Our goal is to reach the $250,000 level we reached after the 2007 flood that devastated farms, homes, and herds in Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Pacific counties.
Thank you for any consideration of the needs across Western Washington that have been caused by this storm.
