While one of the worst droughts in recent history has shined a spotlight on the plight of area crop farmers, they are not the only sector of Talladega and St. Clair counties’ agricultural industry suffering from the lack of rain. Cattle farmers are also feeling the effects of the drought – ranging from having a difficult time finding hay to getting water to their herds.
Last year’s drought had already put a strain on local farmers. They were forced to feed their animals with reserve hay last summer and all through the year. This year’s drought, classified by some experts as a natural disaster, has not given them any relief and they have become desperate to find food for their cattle.
That’s even more of a problem, since the hay crop this year is also falling short. David Wilson, a crop farmer from Talladega, said he hasn’t had any hay to sell this year.
“By this time, we should have already had our second cutting, but we’re just now getting close to our first.”
And he is not the only one.
Chris Campbell another crop farmer in Talladega, said he is receiving several calls about hay and customers asking to be put on a waiting list. However, he does not know when he is going to have hay available, but hopes with the recent rainfall that it will be soon.
The problem is so severe that some farmers have not been able to find any hay locally and are having to search far and wide – even to other states—to keep their herds fed.
Floyd Watts, a cattle farmer in Munford, said he would have to travel 500 to 1,000 miles before he could find hay for his cattle
Bill Jones and Gowan Embry from Talladega County Exchange said farmers have to travel farther and farther out to find hay – and now with gas prices so high the transportation has become more expensive than the hay.
Cattle farmers can use grain feed as an alternative, but that can become expensive to use. Recently because of the drought and the high demand for corn to make ethanol, grain feed prices have also gone up.
“Everything is expensive,” Jones said.
But feed is not the only problem.
Water is now getting scarce for the cattle, too. Many farmers count on wells and ponds as the source of water for cattle. Campbell said his ponds dried up last summer and did not fill back up in winter when they usually do. He has had to pump water from a well for his cattle.
Other farmers’ sources of water have completely dried up.
Shortage of water and hay have put cattle farmers in a major dilemma. It has become either impossible or very expensive to continue to operate their businesses and a few farmers have been pushed to make a last-resort decision — selling cattle.
Cattle farmers are having to sell a number of their cattle just to stay afloat. Watts has sold a third of his female cattle, and some local farmers have been forced to sell off all of their herds. And if things keep going the way they are, Watts said, he will have to sell more of his cattle.
And while the drought is causing problems for local farmers, it is a boon to people in the same business from outside Alabama.
Now cattle farmers from other states are traveling to drought areas and buying cattle.
Jones said “farmers are coming from the Midwest buying cattle.”
Prices for cattle vary, but “last week the prices were down a bit” Campbell said.
Even with the recent rainfall, not many local farmers are in the market for cattle. Campbell’s main concern is that the drought is not over and to buy cattle now would require finding more hay. But even when hay becomes available there is not going to be enough to put in reserve – maybe not even enough for all the farmers now.
“It is going to be two to three years to recover on hay,” he said.
However, there is some relief for farmers. Gov. Bob Riley recently announced an emergency loan with low-interest rate for qualifying farmers.
And the IRS has provided a tax break for cattle farmers and other farmers with livestock obligated to sell their animals. The tax break allows farmers not to pay capital gains taxes for a year after the purchased conditions end.
