Paris, KY - Kentucky farmers cutting a bountiful hay crop this summer are coming to the aid of their drought-stricken brethren in Florida.
The group is gathering 260 tons of hay from about 40 Kentucky farmers, who stacked the hay into boxcars this week so it could go to hungry cattle in Florida.
TransKentucky Transportation Railroad Inc. of Paris was gathering the 13 rail cars so that CSX Transportation, can send the hay, to cattle farm areas north of Ocala, FL that have been hit hardest by the lack of rain.
Everything from the boxcars to forklifts and labor has been donated.
Kentucky, which normally harvests 6 million tons of hay, is expecting a record harvest this year and has plenty to spare.
Florida, meanwhile, has harvested less than half the normal 624,000 tons of hay it uses to feed its 2 million head of cattle.
An additional 3,500 square bales and 1,400 round bales are being shipped through Kentucky's Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray Smith said last week that Kentucky's hay hotline had received more than 200 calls from farmers wanting to sell and donate hay.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
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