Pasture, hay, Christmas trees affected by drought in Michigan
8/17/2023 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Business & Industry
Plants & Wildlife
Tourism & Recreation
AFFECTED AREAS:
Missaukee County, MI
Osceola County, MI
Start Date: 5/15/2023
- End Date: 8/16/2023
Pasture grasses in Osceola County mostly dried up in May and June amid the hot, dry weather. Many area beef farmers had to feed hay supplies intended to be used in the winter months, meaning that more hay will have to be purchased for the winter. Some cattle may also be sold before winter.
Drought hurt the hay crop. Yields from the first cutting were 20% to 40% less than normal. Drought also decreased the size of the second cutting of hay.
Christmas trees were affected by the dry weather, too. Growers lost 10% to 40% of the seedlings planted this year. Christmas tree prices will not be impacted immediately, but may show up years from now if there is a shortage of trees.
Cadillac News (Mich.), Aug 16, 2023
Sources
