Continuing drought demands difficult decisions

Agriculture producers throughout Arkansas and southern Missouri, including those in Baxter and Ozark counties, are having a hard time finding hay to feed their livestock during the coming winter. According to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, The U.S. Drought Monitor Map, released earlier this month, shows 79.83 percent of Arkansas is facing draught, with 2.2 percent facing severe draught. As a result, producers are having to make hard decisions on how to handle rapidly dwindling amounts of forage for their cattle.According to County Extension Agent Staff Chair Mark Keaton of the Baxter County Extension Office, the dry weather has caused significant damage to this year’s hay crops and fields.

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Though this summer has been a dry one, Keaton says it is not unusual for an Arkansas summer.

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Keaton advises producers preparing for winter to look now for hay.

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In addition to Arkansas farmers, those in southern Missouri are also facing problems due to the hot and dry weather.

According to the Ozark County Times, livestock specialist at the Ozark County Extension Office, Randy Wiedmeier says most area producers don’t start feeding winter hay until around Thanksgiving at the earliest. But, with the last fall having been very dry, pastures have dried up, forcing many producers to begin feeding their livestock hay earlier than usual.

As a result, Wiedermeier says this summer’s first cutting of hay, will be meager. Producers who have had plenty of hay to sell in past years have none to spare this year.

Farmers who can’t find hay to feed their cattle this coming winter may face the difficult decision of whether to cull their cow-calf herds. Though many farmers may want to avoid culling, Ozark Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist Eric Bailey say reducing the herd by half before fall forage growth begins may allow stockpiling pastures for winter grazing, which can cut the need to buy feed.

For more information about cattle and forage production, as well as advice for facing issues due to drought, visit the Baxter County Extension Office online at www.uaex.edu/counties/baxter, by calling 870-425-2335, or by visiting the office at 3 East 9th Street in Mountain Home. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 until 4:00.

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