Drought, lack of water leading Montana ranchers to sell calves early
9/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Big Horn County, MT
Broadwater County, MT
Carbon County, MT
Cascade County, MT
Chouteau County, MT
Fergus County, MT
Golden Valley County, MT
Jefferson County, MT
Judith Basin County, MT
Lewis and Clark County, MT
Meagher County, MT
Musselshell County, MT
Petroleum County, MT
Rosebud County, MT
Stillwater County, MT
Sweet Grass County, MT
Teton County, MT
Treasure County, MT
Wheatland County, MT
Yellowstone County, MT
Start Date: 9/15/2022
- End Date: 10/15/2022
The ongoing drought in Montana has reduced available supplies of water for livestock, forcing some ranchers to sell spring-born calves to market early rather than wait until October. The lighter weight of the calf will bring a lower price, but running out of water for livestock dictates what ranchers must do.
Cake prices have risen $100 per ton in the past year, or approximately $200 increase over the past three years. Hay prices have also climbed from $99 to $150 over the past two years for a 950-pound alfalfa/grass mix bale.
KTVQ-TV Q2 Billings (Mont.), Sept 15, 2022
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