Cold, snowy, rainy winter tough on livestock in WV

BECKLEY, W.Va. — It was a tough winter on many in West Virginia including livestock.

“I’ve had producers say they lost as many as 50 calves in the February snowstorms,” USDA Farm Service Agency state Executive Director Rick Snuffer said. “Some of them have just been finding the dead animals in the last few weeks because of the snow.”

Snuffer said the 2014 federal farm bill includes a new livestock incentive program.

“This will help producers who lose livestock whether it be cattle, sheep, goats, any kind of livestock losses in West Virginia, (reimbursed) up to 75 percent of those dead animals,” Snuffer said.

Producers can get more information about the program at their local USDA office or by calling the state office at 304-284-4800.

Snuffer has been on the road speaking with farmers and other producers. He said extreme cold, snow and rain contributed to the deaths of livestock.

“We had snow 40 inches total accumulation in some places of the state that animals would have possibly been covered or frozen, possibly suffocated in the snow,” Snuffer said.





More News

News
Controversial unemployment bill becomes law without governor's signature
The bill freezes employer contributions and freezes benefits for people who lose their jobs.
March 28, 2024 - 12:20 pm
News
Governor signs bill phasing out state taxes on Social Security and receives praise
The phase-out would mean a 35% cut retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024; 65% in 2025 and 100% in 2026.
March 28, 2024 - 11:46 am
News
West Virginia Parkways Authority prepares for Easter travelers on the Turnpike
More than 500,000 transactions are projected at the West Virginia Turnpike through Monday.
March 28, 2024 - 11:30 am
News
Governor vetoes vaccination exemption bill, and now that debate is primed to get even bigger
House Bill 5105 would have removed vaccination requirements for students in virtual public schools, and it also would have allowed private and parochial schools to set their own standards.
March 28, 2024 - 11:14 am


Your Comments