http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Some areas of the Central and Southern Plains, major livestock areas, continue to receive below normal rainfall. Pastures need more rain for adequate growth and grass production for cattle. Brownfield Ag News (Jefferson City, Mo.), May 30, 2023 Drought continues in major beef cattle areas of the US and is significantly affecting the cattle industry, despite drought easing in other parts of the country. Forage remains in demand in the central and southern Plains as drought lowers hay production. The U.S. average of poor to very poor pasture conditions in early May was 37%. The worst pasture conditions were found in Kansas (64%), Nebraska (68%), Oklahoma (54%) and Texas (52%). For the start of the hay crop year, May 1, U.S. hay stocks were down 13.4 percent year over year and were down 26.4 percent from the ten-year 2012-2021 average. Drought has lowered hay production in Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Delayed and limited pasture and hay growth in the central and southern Plains is likely still leading to some cattle liquidation. Total beef cow slaughter through April this year was down 11.2 percent from last year’s high level. Some additional herd liquidation is likely still happening in the worst drought areas, but it may be less apparent due to reduced beef cow slaughter in drought-free areas. Farm Progress (St. Charles, Ill.), May 15, 2023