Record Drought Index Threatens Herd Rebuild

Article by Progressive Farmer, Jennifer Carrico

Drought-type conditions have been widespread throughout the major cow-calf producing states this spring and have affected much of the pasture and range as producers get closer to turning cows out to grass.

Pasture and range conditions in Nebraska continue to be the worst across the country with only 4% of pastures in good-to-excellent condition. Widespread wildfires have left much of the Nebraska Sandhills without grass for several thousand cows.

Less than ideal pasture and range conditions are present in other beef cow states, including Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Kansas and Montana. The other states with the least number of pastures in good-to-excellent condition are Florida, Colorado and Arizona. Missouri and North Dakota are the two beef cow states showing better pasture conditions with 76% and 61% in good-to-excellent condition, respectively.

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