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Herds are hurting: Extreme drought may put ranchers out of business
Wichita Falls (TX) Times Record News ^ | July 13, 2011 | Lynn Walker

Posted on 07/17/2011 12:06:07 PM PDT by re_nortex

Wichita Falls has exceeded 100-degree highs 39 of the past 40 days. There was a string of 100-plus degree days before that. By this date in a normal year, Wichita Falls would have received about 16 inches of rain. This year it has been just over 3 inches. Forecasters are not optimistic about substantial rain between now and September.

Wichita County Extension agent Fred Hall said he has talked to old-timers who remember the severe droughts of 1956 and 1980. They recall those droughts started later in the year and there was residual moisture in the ground to help forage.

"There's simply no moisture bank this year," Hall said.

(Excerpt) Read more at m.timesrecordnews.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Weather
KEYWORDS: cattle; drought; texas; wichitafalls
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To: mylife
Both my home and our lake property are in that deep maroon of exceptional drought.

I had bought 10 pecan trees to plant at Toledo Bend but have kept them at pots at the house so I could keep them watered.

21 posted on 07/17/2011 12:33:46 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney
We ranch in Eastern NM and it the worst for moisture in 100 years. Our water-tables are dropping, hauling water everyday, and the difficult decision on selling calves early, taking the loss, and trying to hang on to cows that were able to breed back is here. We are a family ranch homesteded by my Grandpa in 1906, & this is our life. We will make it but times are gong to get rough. For you who do not understand, cows not breeding this year means no calves next year. Lots and lots of cows being sold. Pray for rain for all of us. Denco
22 posted on 07/17/2011 12:34:58 PM PDT by denco
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To: denco

Beef price may fall with the selling of cattle but the following year, beef will be costly.


23 posted on 07/17/2011 12:36:14 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Fred Hayek
Why not pin the drought on Barry Dunham since he hates Texas.

It happened on his watch, so it's "Obama's Drought".

Although he didn't cause it any more than George W. Bush steered Katrina toward New Orleans, I have little doubt that the usurper is taking great pleasure at the suffering and economic loss triggered by the drought here in Texas.

24 posted on 07/17/2011 12:37:24 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: thackney

I have some 2 gallon drinking water jugs that I poked a couple of pinholes in the bottoms. I fill them with water and set them over the roots of my maple saplings. It takes about two hours for the water to drain out and seems to be working well.


25 posted on 07/17/2011 12:40:39 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: re_nortex
The 'Great Plains' is a savanna (grassland) for a good reason. It does not support tree growth. The reason is because it is naturally subjected to droughts which kill trees. Grasses survive droughts much better than trees.

If Kansas did not naturally suffer regular droughts, it would support forests instead of savanna (grasslands). If you can't tolerate droughts, don't live in Kansas.

26 posted on 07/17/2011 12:42:02 PM PDT by CharlyFord (t)
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To: re_nortex

Here’s the corrected URL for the ABC News story about lakes and swimming pools in Oklahoma City:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Weather/extreme-heat-scorches-dallas-oklahoma-city/story?id=14046745


27 posted on 07/17/2011 12:43:27 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: thackney

Yep, they will get higher


28 posted on 07/17/2011 12:44:45 PM PDT by denco
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To: RockinRight
West & Trans Pecos Texas benefit greatly when a Pacific hurricane comes east off Baja. It's usually a long, soaking rain.
29 posted on 07/17/2011 12:46:41 PM PDT by Deaf Smith
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To: mylife

It’s all part of a natural process. More animals will survive because of the human population and food and water being supplied to them, that they would have never had, prior to a human population several hundred years ago.

This is also why the deer population has been on the increase in the last 100 years.

The ranchers will recover also, even though we hate to see them hurting. It’s like the laws of “Survival of the fittest”. Those ranchers who built extra water and food storage for times like these will survive and prosper.


30 posted on 07/17/2011 12:48:52 PM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (Always Remember You're Unique.......(Just Like everyone Else.))
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Click the Dragon's Eggs

Don't Let the Dragons Eat You

Give what you can
Or donate monthly, and a sponsoring FReeper will contribute $10

31 posted on 07/17/2011 12:52:10 PM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
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To: RockinRight; mylife; NautiNurse
Why so sad?

The Tropics are waking UP. Good chance of another Hermine, sooner or later.

Nautinurse about to get something!


32 posted on 07/17/2011 12:53:45 PM PDT by txhurl (Did you want to talk or fish?)
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To: thackney

The USA Corps of Engineers and AmerenMissouri (the utility that owns Lake of the Ozarks) are holding back almost all water from Truman Reservior and the Lake of the Ozarks to allow the flood to pass on the Missouri.

Our water smells fresh and clean and there is plenty of it.

Air temp: 98 F
Water: 91 F.


33 posted on 07/17/2011 12:55:25 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Eh ?)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Toledo Bend Lake is expecting record lows this year.

Several boat ramps are out of business as the ramp no longer reaches the lake.


34 posted on 07/17/2011 12:59:03 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: txhurl

It would no surprise me if we had an active hurricane season.


35 posted on 07/17/2011 1:11:54 PM PDT by mylife (OPINIONS ~ $ 1.00 HALFBAKED ~ 50c)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

36 posted on 07/17/2011 1:15:07 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: RockinRight

I am hoping for a hurricane or tropical storm and I hope it comes right here to our ranch here in east Texas. I have about 150 head and it is bad. I am luckier than most. Many are simply selling out.


37 posted on 07/17/2011 1:21:17 PM PDT by Texas Songwriter (Haw)
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To: denco

38 posted on 07/17/2011 1:27:24 PM PDT by tflabo ( to have been selected)
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To: Texas Songwriter

It’s the worst drought we’ve ever experienced in the 25 yrs. we’ve had the farm. We don’t have a large herd, about 20 momma cows and calves, but the 3 stock tanks are so low we believe we will be out of water by the end of next month.
The grass is crispy and short from grazing and no rain means no more grass. Hay is almost impossible to find. The farmers are baling the corn and sorgham stalks to sell as filler (not much protein in it). Corn was severely stunted from lack of rain. We’ve been feeding cottonseed meal every day to supplement the cows, trying to make it thru the drought, but decided today to sell off the older cows and keep the younger cows because they have a better chance of making it thru. That will knock the herd down to less than half. But hopefully we will have enough hay to keep those going. Will still have to worry about water. We are about 90 mi. S of Dallas. Please say a prayer for rain for all of Texas!


39 posted on 07/17/2011 2:45:56 PM PDT by Bassfire (Remember the Alamo!)
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To: txhurl

Yowser! That’s looking rather menacing. Thanks for the heads up.


40 posted on 07/17/2011 2:52:39 PM PDT by NautiNurse
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