Since March of 2019, the Midwestern United States has experienced extreme weather, including record snowfall and an early March blizzard, which has resulted in severe flooding, as frozen ground was unable to absorb quickly melting snow, leading to unprecedented runoff into local streams and rivers.
Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts declared a state of emergency, calling the floods “the most extensive damage our state has ever experienced.” This has had a devastating impact on farmers and ranchers in the region, stranding or drowning livestock, ruining storage bins, and destroying harvests.
To help with the recovery, the DRI Foundation provided support to the Nebraska Cattlemen Association, which is working to assist cattle producers impacted by natural disasters by launching a new disaster relief fund. 100% of all donations to the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund is distributed to Nebraska cattle producers affected by natural disasters, including recent wet weather events.