The problem

During the cold temperatures experienced during early January 2024 there was a county-wide water outage.  Livestock producers that relied on city water as the only source for drinking water was in need of access to water to deliver to their livestock.   

The educational program response

The local EMS director contacted the extension office to assist with water for livestock. A plan was developed to stage a large tank at the Extension office, for producers to fill their tanks to haul water for livestock.  The tank was refilled from surrounding county municipal water via the local fire department.  

The participants/target audience

 Livestock producers that utilized city water as their only source of water for livestock. 

Other partners (if applicable)

Local emergency management personnel, local fire dept.  local row crop producers. 

Program impact or participant response.

Livestock producers were able to access the water tank at the extension office 24 hours a day during the water outage that lasted up to 12 days in some parts of the county.  Producers were very thankful and appreciated the opportunity to fill their tanks at the extension office. During the water outage roughly 22-24,000 gallons of water was accessed by producers for livestock water.