14
AUGUST 1, 2012
Nebraska Farm Bureau News
Farmers, Ranchers and Firefighters Pray for Rain By Tina Henderson At least 300 people from more than 35 fire departments across western Nebraska have been battling what authorities are calling the Fairfield Creek Fire, a fire so aggressive Gov. Dave brought in the Nebraska National Guard on July 21 to help battle the blaze. The fire began with a lightning strike the morning of July 20 in neighboring Brown County before jumping the Niobrara River from south to north and moving through the village of Norden in Keya Paha County. Range fires are only one of the many catastrophic events associated with one of the worst dry spells in Nebraska’s recent history. The drought which began showing signs in western Nebraska in late May has now blossomed into a full-on, statewide drought that’s damaged Nebraska’s grazing lands and wreaked havoc on Nebraska’s farms and ranches. Jim Ferguson, president of the Keya Paha County Farm Bureau, has been working with his rancher neighbors to move cattle away from the danger and to try to save houses from the fire. Ferguson estimates that ranchers have moved more than three to five thousand head of cattle to protect them from fires. In one canyon, cattle were moved five minutes before the fire blew through like a tornado, overtaking the canyon in minutes. Local businesses and ranchers are transporting water to the fire fighters in tank trucks and semis and in water tanks in pickups and on trailers. As of July 30 the wildfires in north-central Nebraska have been declared contained, but residents will have to remain vigilant because of the dry conditions. Western Nebraska’s wildfires stared in June when officials in Harrison and Potter began battling wildfires due to extreme dry conditions. The fire near Harrison blackened hundreds of acres in the northwest corner of Nebraska. Harrison fire officials say that the charred area has reached around 3,000 acres. No damage to any structures has
been reported, nor any injuries. Near Potter a fire caused by a lightning strike on June 16 blackened nearly 3,000 acres in the southern Nebraska Panhandle before it was contained. CROPS: WITHERING UP As the drought continues to tighten its grip on Nebraska, dryland corn and soybeans are also feeling the effects of drought. More than 75 percent of Nebraska is in extreme drought, according to the latest estimates. Seventy-two percent of Nebraska’s livestock pastures and range land are rated in very poor or poor condition. On July 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture dropped the estimated average U.S. corn yield by 20 bushels per acre, from 166 to 146, and blamed scarce rainfall coupled with record-breaking temperatures. Conditions are the worst since 1988. Lower soybean yields also were predicted. LIVESTOCK: FARMER/RANCHER COST INCREASE Dry and burning pastures, a shortage of hay and higher prices for feed stuffs are taking a toll on Nebraska’s beef industry. The result is more farmers and ranchers looking to liquidate cattle. Ranchers like Jeff Metz of Bridgeport, a member of the Morrill County Farm Bureau, and Tanya Storer of Whitman, a member of the Cherry County Farm Bureau and of the NEFB Board of Directors, are dealing directly with the drought conditions. Storer ranches with her husband Eric near Whitman. They have decided to sell more than 250 head of yearlings (12- to 15-month old cattle) at the end of July or the first week of August. They will start culling older cows in the herd next. “It is an overwhelming feeling of being out of control. If you live in the city you can turn on a sprinkler to water your yard. You can’t do that in your pasture. If your calves are sick you doctor them and if you have
Photo Courtesy of the Ainsworth Star Journal
Farmers and ranchers on both sides of the Niobrara River moved livestock and equipment out of harm’s way as the fire continued to burn in both directions along the Niobrara River. grasshoppers you can spray for them, but in a drought all you can do is pray for rain,” Storer said July 24. Jeff Metz, who raises about 300 head of cattle near Bridgeport, is seeing high hay and corn prices, which hits his pocketbook hard. “Because I have very little grass to use, I will have to feed my cattle hay and protein like corn or distillers grain. With limited amounts of hay available and the corn crop shrinking and pushing prices higher, I estimate paying $15,000 to $20,000 a month in feed costs,” he said. While Metz hasn’t brought any cattle to the sale barn yet, he plans to reduce his herd size by about 60 to 75 head. “We usually start checking to see if cows are ready to get pregnant in October or November. Because of the drought, we will start the ultrasound process in August. If a cow cannot breed in that 60-day window, we have no choice but to cull that cow,” he said. DROUGHT AND FOOD PRICES Some believe that the drought coupled with higher grain prices automatically translates into a major increase in food prices. Brad Lubben, UNL ag economist, said for many processed food products the commodity portion of the food’s cost is a small share of the total cost, and even large increases in commodity prices don’t translate into major increase in food costs.
For more primary food products such as meat, poultry and dairy, where the farm portion of the cost is higher, the drought can more directly affect food costs. The impact is fairly quick and will push prices higher. Beef may be an exception in the very short term, as herds are liquidated and the number of cows sent to slaughter increases ground beef supplies. “Because of the drought, we are seeing a loss of productivity. Ranchers are getting rid of some of their cow herds. So there are a lot more cattle going to market, meaning the supply is higher. Buy your beef now,” Lubben said. In the long-term, three months to five years, beef prices will be higher because many farmers and ranchers won’t have as many cattle moving through the system, he explained. While the consumer is not going to feel the same pain as farmers or ranchers right now, they need to rethink blaming higher food prices on the drought, he said. “There is a policy point to consider. Those consumers who are worried about food prices because of drought are the same consumers who worried three months ago about eating Lean, Finely Textured Beef, dubbed ‘pink slime’ by the news media. Because consumers didn’t want to buy ground beef containing Lean, Finely Textured Beef, total beef produced by the industry went down and prices went up substantially for ground beef,” Lubben said.
Photo Courtesy of the Ainsworth Star Journal
Photo Courtesy of Sherry Vinton, NFBF at-large director of Arthur County
A National Guard helicopter takes water from Cub Creek to dump on the canyon fire east of Norden in north central Nebraska.
The Sandhills in Nebraska have been labeled “the summer without green,” because the drought of 2012 has brought no moisture and nothing but brown grass.
Progression of Drought JULY 24, 2012
JULY 10, 2012
KEY Drought Moderate
Drought Severe
Drought Extreme
Drought Exceptional