Small ranchers struggling to feed herd, resorting to selling livestock
8/2/2021 6:46:58 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Mesa County, CO
Fruita, CO
Lincoln County, ID
Richfield, ID
Start Date: 7/29/2021
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Drought, intense heat and a shortage of water has left many small ranchers unable to afford feed for their livestock, making sales inevitable. The irrigation season in southwest Idaho was shortened from about 140 days down to 27. Hay growers in Idaho’s Magic Valley got only one cutting of hay rather than three, causing feed prices to rise.
A western Colorado rancher was dealing with similar challenges, forcing her to slowly sell cattle. Hay production was 60% of normal, so she bought hay from Kansas.
Time (New York), July 29, 2021
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