News

Expanding drought creates mounting challenges for Missouri cattle producers

Expanding drought conditions are creating additional challenges for cattle producers in parts of the country. Tony Hancock with the Missouri Department of Agriculture says, “In Southern Missouri, things are getting pretty serious, pretty fast.” 

He tells Brownfield some producers are having to make move cattle due to water availability.  “Some springs are drying up, several smaller creeks that have names that of course only locals would know, but big enough creeks that typically run year-round, some of those are getting dry or very little water in them,” he says.  “I’m even hearing some guys feeding some supplemental hay right now.”  
 
Hancock says drought conditions and market uncertainty are pressuring prices.  “This month in Joplin, they quoted their bred cows and pairs about $400 to $800 lower than last month,” he says.  “And that’s strictly just due to uncertainty with the markets and the extreme dryness in the area. Nobody wants to buy cows if they don’t have feed for them.” 

About 27 percent of Missouri is facing moderate to extreme drought conditions.