LOGAN– The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food has had many requests for assistance from livestock owners impacted by the unprecedented string of wildfires burning in the state.  As a result, the department has announced an Emergency Animal Feed Program where the public can make donations of animal food or cash to purchase the food.

A “Feed the Animals” account has been established at Wells Fargo Bank for this purpose.

Cache County Agricultural extension agent Clark Israelsen has encouraged local residents to help.

“Cache County has been very fortunate, we’ve been protected,” Israelsen said. “Our turn will probably come one day, but for right now we’ve done pretty well. Whenever someone else is in trouble, it’s always nice to help.”

Israelsen said in 2007 thousands of acres of rangeland were destroyed in the Milford Flat Fire in southern Utah and several producers and organizations got together and sent a truckload of hay to help out. A website is available for the public to make donations and for livestock owners to make requests for assistance. The web site is <a href=”http://www.uearc.org/” target=”_blank”>www.uearc.org</a>.