By Ryan Holterhoff
Ranchers and livestock throughout the state are reeling from the effects of Utah”s drought and summer heat.
According to the Utah Agricultural Statistics Service, water supplies are extremely low and range conditions are poor due record-breaking heat and lack of precipitation throughout the state.
One area of the state forced to deal with effects of the climate is Iron County.
“It”s unthinkable! I have never seen the conditions this bad,” said Chad Reid, an agricultural agent for the Utah State University extension services in Cedar City. “Even those who were around in the 1930”s and 1950”s are saying that the current conditions are the worst they have ever seen,” he said.
The conditions are forcing ranchers to make extraordinary adjustments for moving their livestock.
Many ranchers in the area have already had to move their cattle off of their summer ranges when they would normally not have to bring the cattle off of their ranges until first part of October, Reid said. There is not enough food on the ranges for the livestock to stay, he said.
Early removal of livestock from their summer ranges is causing a financial burden to many ranchers.
Bringing the cattle off the ranches leaves the ranchers having to hay-feed the cattle, which is costly, so ranchers have to sell their cattle, Reid said. Agriculture has a low rate of return as it is, and when combined with four years of drought, it is becoming a life-threatening situation for many ranchers, he said.
It appears as though the conditions in southern Utah will eventually be affecting the entire state.
Jeff Christensen, an intern at the Utah Agricultural Statistics Service, said the state sends out surveys to county agents throughout the state and the reports coming back are not promising.
“Circumstances that are currently affecting only certain parts of the state will be eventually disturbing the whole state,” Christensen said.
Utah County ranchers are feeling the effects as well.
“Here in Utah County the early hot weather has forced a great deal of the grass to retard in growth much earlier than normal,” said Craig Burrell, animal scientist agent for the Utah State University extension services in Provo.
Because of the lack of growth, many ranchers in Utah Valley may be forced to move their cattle off their summer ranges as early as August, Burrell said.
Since many ranchers are having to move their herds early, the demand for hay is high right now, and this has caused the price of hay to go up, he said.
“Hay is pretty expensive right now, nearly $20 to $30 per ton higher than it normally is,” Burrell said.
Due to higher prices for hay and an early exit from the summer ranges, some ranchers will be forced to examine their herds and downsize them as needed in order to break even, he said.
Presently, most ranchers in the state need this fall and winter to bring changes to the current conditions throughout the state.
“It is a sad situation right now, and if things do not improve before next year, I am afraid to see what the circumstances could be like then,” Reid said.
