A drought is causing ranchers to sell off their cattle before it’s too late to make a profit on them. Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) issued a disaster declaration over the dry conditions. There has been little to no rain along with triple-digit temperatures.
Ranchers trying to raise cattle were already being challenged by inflation, with costs for fertilizer, gas, equipment and feed rising. The expenses of running a ranch have become infeasible for some, and grass and water are now in short supply.
Ranchers fear this drought could be as bad as the 2011 drought that cost Texas agriculture $7.62 billion. Statistics from U.S. Drought Monitor show 97% of the state is going through some kind of drought. The lack of rainfall is having similar effects in Oklahoma and Kansas as well.
As a result of the drought and the rush to get cattle sold, videos showing long lines of cattle trailers outside of auction markets are going viral on social media. Auction markets are recording record number of cattle sold in daily profit reports. With low production of grass and hay in fields and pastures, cows are worth more sold now than if they’re sold later after not gaining the weight needed to raise their value.
A Facebook video showed long lines of dozens of ranchers waiting their turn to sell their cattle outside of the Emory Livestock Auction in Emory, Texas. In one Saturday alone, the auction sold 3,000 cattle.
“Not a good sign at all. I feel bad for everyone that is having to sell today,” the woman said in her post. “I’ve never seen this many trailers waiting to drop off livestock.”
The United State Department of Agriculture released a report this week showing 83% of pastures are now considered to be in poor to very poor condition.
