In rural communities , when a fellow farmer is in penury , we do what we can to aid . Pitching in to make clean up storm damage , lending an extra brace of hands during the crop , bring over a meal after a expiry in the family — it ’s all part of being neighbourly .
Farmers in Nebraska are extending this sense of good-neighbourliness across the Pacific to aid victims of last month ’s earthquake , tsunami and atomic calamity in Japan . Thanks to a partnership among theNebraska Corn Growers Assocation , Aurora Cooperativeand Lexington , Neb. ’s , KRVN 880 Rural Radio , growers are able to allow a portion of their corn or grain crop to support theAmerican Red Cross’massive Japan relief cause .
The grain - donation programme is the inspiration of John Willoughby , a Wood River , Neb.-area husbandman active in the NeCGA . NeCGA field services director Mat Habrock says that a fundraising effort for Japan was a innate burst for the organization . As the third - largest consumer of U.S. agrarian exportation and Nebraska ’s with child global corn buyer , “ Japan has always been a good customer . ”
Aurora Cooperative , where Willoughby sit around on the board of directors , aid bring his idea of aiding Nebraska ’s economic neighbor to life . The logistics of the programme are round-eyed , read Dawn Caldwell , bodied communication manager for Aurora . When Farmer put their corn or grain on the scale , they tell the hustler how much of the load they want to delegate for the Red Cross — be it five bushels or a semi - truck lading . Then , “ we just split the just the ticket on the scale , ” she explains . The food grain is trade at spot price .
At the conclusion of each week , the co - op sends a check to the Red Cross . This ensures a never-ending extract of cash for the Japan relief travail , Caldwell says . Since the program ’s April 1 get-go , Aurora customer have donate $ 44,000 in corn , grain and cash . of late , Cooperative Producers , Inc.also joined the fundraising exertion , bringing the amount fire through NeCGA to more than $ 55,000 .
Habrock and Caldwell both accent that farm of any sizing are encouraged to contribute to the Japan relief sweat , with Caldwell append that most of the donations logged at Aurora location have come from small- to medium - sized family farm .
Nebraska ’s corn whisky growers are n’t the only farmers raising funds for their craft partners in Japan . Both Habrock and Caldwell say they ’ve speak to factory farm leaders from other corn states looking to go standardized programs . heart and soul manufacturer are getting imply , as well . In March , the Beef Checkoff Program invested $ 200,000 in a relievo fund administered by the U.S. Meat Export Federation ; the National Pork Board also allocated $ 100,000 from the Pork Checkoff to this fund . The USMEF ’s fund will be used to help relieve food shortages in Japan .
While Caldwell says the destruction in Japan is immense , with many project it to be “ the unmarried largest disaster in earth history from an economical stand , ” she say she ’s awe by the response she ’s watch from the U.S. farming residential area .
“ Their reply has been wonderful . … Their sum goes out when someone else is in penury of assistance . ”
To find out if there ’s a corn- or grain - contribution program in your area , get through your localfarmers ’ co - opor growers connexion . To make a immediate payment donation to the American Red Cross , visit their secureonline - donation site .
