Drought Takes Toll On Pasture Animals
US - North Carolinians who raise large animals are feeling the lash of drought, too. Pastures have shriveled under withering heat, and cattle and horse farmers are being forced to other alternatives. Primarily, that means hay -- expensive if farmers can find it at all.
12 September 2007
1 minute read
| Brandon Velie, an assistant horse trainer at Curtis Dean's farm in Zebulon, lugs a bale of hay that will feed his charges. |
State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced two programs Tuesday that are intended to help struggling cattle farmers, but some are dumping their stock anyway. "Good production cows is what they're selling," said Bundy Plyler, executive director of the N.C. Cattlemen's Association. "They're selling their future."
The latest on the drought
All North Carolina remains in a drought. The most severe conditions are in the western part of the state. The Triangle has extreme drought conditions, with Raleigh 7 inches below normal rainfall for this year.
Source: TheNewsAndObserver
