JEFFERSON CITY — State agriculture officials say Missouri ranchers are rushing to sell their cattle herds amid concerns about the effects of an ongoing drought.
While Ƶ received enough rainfall in recent weeks to fall out of the drought category, much of Missouri remains dangerously dry, resulting in the loss of grass for cattle with few prospects for improvement, state and federal officials said in a meeting Tuesday.
“We know this is going to have a long-term impact on the livestock industry,” Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn told members of the Drought Assessment Committee.
Missouri ranks third in the nation for beef production behind Texas and Oklahoma.
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According to the latest , 95.3% of Missouri is experiencing drought, with over 23% of the state in extreme drought.
After the hottest June every recorded on earth, Missouri is again set up for a blistering few days with temperatures possibly over 100 this week.
The map shows central and western Missouri to be in exceptional drought, which is the worst category. Officials said low stream flows are beginning to show in northeast Missouri, which is heavily agricultural.
The state hasn’t had to enact emergency measures for public drinking water systems, but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is warning that navigation on the Mississippi River could begin to be affected by low water levels in the coming weeks.
Last year, the Mississippi plummeted to low depths, affecting barge traffic on one of the major arteries for moving coal, oil, natural gas, chemicals and commodities.
As part of the state’s response, officials have opened up public land for farmers to cut hay and are allowing water to be pumped out of Missouri Department of Conservation lakes.
Ag officials also are trying to facilitate hay sales by offering an online marketplace for ranchers to buy and sell the feed.
“I know we have a lot of folks looking for hay,” said Chris Klenklen of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, who also serves on the Drought Assessment Committee.
But, with the prospects of little rain, he said ranchers are filling up auction barns to cull their herds.
Crop farmers also are facing stunted corn, leaving some of them to begin cutting it early to help supply feed for cattle.