Image: Pixabay
The drought has caused hay supplies to plummet to an all-time low, leaving some Kansas cow and calf raisers having to cull their herds, while others wonder if they will have to follow suit.
Jude Gottschalk, owner of Gottschalk Equipment Sales, Inc. in Hays, Kansas, says some ranchers have told him about selling their cattle herds because of the significant drought. “You’re hearing these old guys breaking down and crying to see their herd go,” Gottschalk says. “It’s not just your livelihood.”
{module Form RD}
The drought conditions that affected Kansas were persistent throughout the winter, which Gottschalk says really damaged the rangelands. According to the June 5 crop progress condition report for Kansas, range and pasture conditions are 37% fair, with 24% rating poor and 21% rating very poor. Only 1% of pasture and field conditions are rated excellent, with the remaining conditions rated 17% good.
According to the latest drought monitor map, some areas of Kansas have seen some relief in precipitation, with the D4 exceptional drought reducing from the state's nearly 32% last week to the state's nearly 17% this week. This week, D3 extreme drought conditions cover nearly 30% of the state, while just over 21% of Kansas is in D2 severe drought. Nearly 13% of the state is in moderate D1 drought, just over 10% is abnormally dry, and only 9% of the state's acres are drought-free.
The information is from agriculture.com.
Source: Leonardo Gottems | agrolink
