Arkets. We don’t plan for fire.’

f the volunteer firefighters that night. Just like the Gaffneys, the Sedas lost and that provided an income for them. ifle Creek Cattle believes they will xperience a three-year or more loss efore they can graze their land again. It’s literally sand out there,” Stephanie ated.

In 2022, the Weissert area was hit ith grass fires in late January. Brett nd Lena Peterson’s 100-year-old family armstead was saved. With 600 acres of asture burned, the Petersons had to eadjust. Brett stated, “With last summer being hot and dry, on top of the fire, e had to sell part of our herd. Luckily, e had neighbors who let us rent some cres to get by.”

The Petersons were able to take advanage of some fire relief assistance. Their razing for the summer of 2023 was not ooking much better than last year with he little moisture in the first months f the year. The rains the area received arting May 4 and continuing through he week have been a blessing, they are ill not enough to get back to normal razing.

Monday after the April 13 fire, the Gaffneys needed to have a plan to move forward financially. The Gaffneys have relied on assistance and guidance from their Financial Officer Tyler Peters at Farm Credit Services of America.

Peters told the Chief, “We always talk about generalized preparation for downturn markets, drought and hail. Never had we discussed if fire struck.”

Peters said he had a good communication line with both Drew and Cristi. They wanted to talk right away on Monday with him after the fire took their grass on Thursday night. They had continued to monitor throughout the weekend, First Peters advised them to get some rest, then they started talking.

For any operation, first owners need to look at short term deferral payments, figure out a new cash flow and look long term. With the introduction of disaster assistance, financial officers can work through them with their customers.

“Custer County producers know their operations to a T.” Peters said. “We have