Farmers say ‘black rain’ fell from Smitty’s explosion

What fell from the sky, ten miles away from Smitty’s Supply motor oil facility during the August 23 explosion, coated the pasture, water troughs, and bales of hay on Jason Brown and Adam Hayden’s farm.

Their herd of about fifty beef cattle refused to graze on the pasture, refused to drink from the water troughs, and refused to eat the hay. The cows were also covered in the oily soot.

Brown and Hayden scrubbed the cows with Dawn dish soap and spent five days getting them trucked up to a friend’s pasture in Mississippi.

Now, they’re concerned that if the hay is contaminated – 250 bales to feed the herd through the winter- the cattle may have to be sold, putting an end to the farm they have worked years to grow.

“We’re not looking for handouts,” said Brown, “we’re looking for solutions.”