Drought Putting Pressure On Cattle Producers

Hot and dry conditions across Oklahoma are
putting pressure on cattle producers who are selling their herds
because there’s not enough forage.
The selloff began in
southwest Oklahoma earlier in the summer. Now the rest of the state
is deep into a drought. Stockyards have
been auctioning cattle so fast that some analysts say there aren’t
many cows left in the state to put on the block.
In addition to the lack of forage, high fuel prices make it
impractical to ship feed to the cattle.
Ranchers are catching one break. Worldwide demand for beef is
up, so prices have been rising.