On April 25, Commissioner Staples was joined by dozens of volunteers to implement "Operation New Fences" - an effort to bring livestock back home to Southeast Texas ranches by rebuilding fences that were destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Through the help of generous donors, volunteers were able to distribute more than $100,000 worth of donated fence posts and barbed wire to nearly 100 ranchers in the Hurricane Ike surge zone in Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Liberty and Orange counties.  

"Operation New Fences" was a successful collaboration among the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, M&J Fertilizer, Fellowship of Christian Farmers International, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Texas Animal Health Commission and industry associations, including the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Independent Cattlemen's Association.

While this effort made a difference in the lives of numerous Texas ranchers, many are still in need.

To donate hay, please contact the TDA Hay Hotline at 1-877-429-1998.

To help with the ongoing fence rebuilding effort, contact the Fellowship of Christian Farmers, International.