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EQIP and Hurricane Katrina Success Story
USDA/NRCS Assist Plaquemines SWCD Board Member Implement Conservation
Practices to Restore Livestock Operations after Hurricane Katrina
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Ms. Patty Vogt is a board member on the Plaquemines Soil and Water Conservation
District. She is also a cattle rancher, tomato grower, and a citrus producer.
She has been very active within her district to save her parish from coastal
erosion and making sure the cattle under her care have proper pasture nutrients
and clean water. Ms. Vogt takes pride in her operation; she manages 6,000 acres
of land which include 300 Brangus cattle, 4,000 citrus trees and many tomato
plants. Ms. Vogt has spent her entire life taking care of family land in
Plaquemines Parish.
Ms. Vogt lives in Homeplace, Louisiana in Plaquemines Parish, and lost
everything in Hurricane Katrina. Among her losses were 238 head of Brangus
cattle, 4,000 citrus trees, many tomato plants, pasture fencing, a hay barn,
corral, and a catch pen. This caused Ms. Vogt to lose her livelihood. Ms. Vogt’s
pastures were covered with marshgrass and other vegetation that had to be
removed or burned. The salt water killed most of the common Bermuda grass in her
pastures.
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Mr. Michael Trusclair and Ms. Vogt examine
the farm |
Ms. Vogt was able to rescue 51 head of her cattle herd, however eleven died
later from salt water intake. Ms. Vogt found some of her cattle hanging in trees
caused from the high water and found some of her cattle dead on the side of the
levee from the contaminated water. All 4,000 citrus trees were lost from
Hurricane Katrina. “I have not been able to restore my citrus orchard because it
takes three years for a citrus tree to start producing fruits.”
Mr. Michael Trusclair, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), District
Conservationist for the Plaquemines and Crescent SWCD has been giving Ms. Vogt
conservation technical assistance in order to restore her fencing, pasture land,
forage quality, and watering facilities. It has taken two years for Ms. Vogt to
bring her property, cattle herd, fruit, and vegetables back in operation. With
assistance from NRCS, Ms. Vogt is getting all of her property fencing replaced.
She has also installed watering facilities for a source of clean water for the
continuously grazed pasture. Soon Ms.Vogt will be able to move 50-60 Brangus
heifers to her property. Her pastures are now clean of debris, and common
bermudagrass has returned in her pastures, which will be great when she moves
her cattle back on the land. Ms. Vogt is not yet able to return to Plaquemines
to live, she must commute from Tangipahoa Parish in order to bring her operation
back to pre-storm conditions.
Ms. Vogt is a very determined woman to get back and put up with the damage and
headaches of losing her livelihood, pride, joy, and Plaquemines Parish. She is
on her way to having her ranch and farm back to some kind of normalcy. For more
information contact Michael Trusclair at: Email:michael.trusclair@la.usda.gov
Ph: 985-758-2162 ext.3
Story submitted by: Paul Wallace Email: paul.wallace@la.usda.gov,
Ph: 318-473-7778 |
Last Modified:
12/17/2007
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