Drought takes toll on crops, cattle

ST. LOUIS » Parts of Missouri are so dry that corn crops are suffering and hay for cattle is in short supply, with water becoming increasingly scarce, experts say.

Missouri has had belowaverage rainfall since winter. The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows that nearly all of Missouri is experiencing drought, with several counties in the northwestern part of the state facing “exceptional” conditions — the most dire classification assigned by the monitor. Conditions were nearly as bad elsewhere along the northern tier and in southwestern Missouri.

Much of the western U.S. is also experiencing drought. But Missouri is the only Midwestern state with such severe conditions. Parts of Kansas also are extremely dry, but most of Illinois and Nebraska, and the northern half of Iowa, are drought-free.

“That isolated nature really hurts some corn growers because they’re competing against other farmers in the Midwest that have had bumper crops,” said Mark Fuchs, hydrologist for the National Weather Service office near St. Louis. “That puts a lot of them on the brink of financial ruin.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists soil moisture as “short” or “very short” in four-fifths of the state. As for Missouri’s corn crop, nearly half of it was listed as poor or very poor, according to the most recent USDA progress report. Only about a quarter was listed as good or excellent.

The drought has also hurt pastures, with about threequarters in poor or very poor conditions, according to the USDA report. Many pastures haven’t been able to support grazing cattle, prompting farmers to feed cattle with hay that might normally be saved for winter. It’s also hurt the hay crop, which is down about one-third from normal.