TX cattle industry,horses,cotton-all being killed by drought

[surprise_i'm_armed]

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/weather/ ... 08-31.html

The above link is to a 7 minute, 44 second interview on the PBS News Hour with interviewer
Ms. Gwen Ifill and NPR reporter Mr. Wade Goodwyn. Goodwyn is based in Dallas, but covers stories all over Texas,
and has occasionally gone to Mexico.

At about 2:29 into this piece, he starts discussing in detail the terrible shape in which Texas cattle ranchers find
themselves. He doesn't say much about cotton, but he discusses the sad fact that horses are being given away, or
sold for $15 or $20, IIRC.

This drought is going to change Texas' cattle industry in far-reaching ways. It's become an old man's game, and younger
men won't necessarily have the money to develop the large herds that are currently being sold off, due to no water,
and hay bales that cost $65-85 each.

Just yesterday I saw an 18 wheeler flatbed headed south on I-35E, packed high with hay. Now that I know hay bales
are $65-85 each, the economics of shipping hay have become more apparent.

SIA

[OldCannon]

Even if we have restorative weather next year (and predictions aren't good), our livestock and farms are going to suffer something terrible for the next 2-3 years.

[karder]

It is terrible to see 4th and 5th generation ranchers and farmers facing bankruptcy for something that is so far out of their control. Like ikd said, we need good rain for the next few years to help get things back to normal. I hope we are not losing a whole way of life in Texas.

[Reloader]

Friend is shipping to feed lots in Montana..said cheaper than water and hay, he said it, not me.

[fishman]

The grass at our place has been eaten down to dirt, the yupon has been knocked down by the cows just tryin to get more to eat. Praying for rain!!

[surprise_i'm_armed]

The grass at our place has been eaten down to dirt, the yupon has been knocked down by the cows just tryin to get more to eat. Praying for rain!!

"Yupon" was a new word to me. I searched Merriam Webster's online dictionary and came up with nada.

The word "yaupon" was there and described it as "a holly of the southeastern US with smooth elliptical leaves with emetic
and purgative properties."

Was that what your cattle knocked down?

SIA

[fishman]

You got to be kidding me.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

fishman:

No, I'm not kidding. I never heard the term before. There's probably others here who didn't recognize it either.

SIA

[fishman]

I missed the "a".

[steveincowtown]

fishman:

No, I'm not kidding. I never heard the term before. There's probably others here who didn't recognize it either.

SIA

Never heard of it.

I feel for all of ya'll that have cattle, land, etc. It is rough, and is probably going to be that way for awhile.

[Divided Attention]

Have friends in west/central Texas that are happy to find round bales under $100. Heck we are just happy to find hay at all, as we typically get square bales for our few head o critters. But with feed stores selling it for 10 - 12 bucks a bale, and our hay guy running out, we are looking at converting to round bales. While we are better off than those north and west, our tiny pastures are bare - the cows get to come to the front yard where the septic sprays for a green treat every few days - otherwise it is feed and hay. My homegrown beef is getting pricier by the day!

Keep praying for those that depend upon mother nature for their livelyhood. These are rough times.