The drought affecting Kansas and Missouri has been severe enough to activate a Livestock Assistance Program in many counties’. Harvest Public Media reports that the program helps ranchers whose pastures have dried out. Ranchers in most of the counties in Kansas and half of Missouri’s counties, have become eligible for the USDA’s Livestock Forage Program, which makes cash payments to ranchers in counties affected by severe drought.
Many ranchers are culling their cattle herds at a much higher rate than normal because they cannot feed them. Todd Barrows, of the Kansas Farm Service Agency says that will impact the future of the number of animals available, which is going to impact the meat supply chain. He says this program and others that assist with water, feed or livestock transportation could help producers keep their herds intact and stay in business.
