Posted: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:17 PM - 13,551 Readers
By: Ben Cunningham
No one wants to say it, but the thought is in everyone’s mind.
It might take a hurricane to renew Austin County, the state of Texas and other areas as harsh drought conditions, and now brash wildfires, plague the area and state.
Philip Shackelford, Austin County AgriLife Extension Agent, does not see things much differently.
“The stock ponds are drying up, and animals are being moved to other pastures. That will cause over-grazing in those,” Shackelford said.
Shackelford also commented that cattle owners are forced to feed a lot more with hay and other supplemental food.
“The cattle side of this is seeing a lot of guys having to sell off new calves earlier than usual instead of waiting until later. They are weaning earlier, and the prices were never better,” Shackelford said.
“It costs more to feed calves than to let them go. Every cowman has a goal of having one calf each year from every mother cow,” he said.
Still, Shackelford sees other options.
“If we don’t get a drop of rain in the next two or three months, I hate to speculate what this area will look like. I don’t think you would see livestock around,” he said.
He said local ranchers would have to find somewhere else to send cattle, possibly contracting for grazing cattle per head, per day in central Oklahoma, Kansas or Missouri.
“Things are gloomy now, but I believe it will turn around. It might be advantageous to sell as many as they can afford to, and sit this one out,” Shackelford said.
Even then the issues are not only about cattle.
“Most of the corn is gone, and not going to make. A lot of people are already collecting insurance,” Shackelford said.
Shackelford has been testing grains, cornstalks, milo and all sorghum-type produce for nitrate poison, which can happen when a nitrogen fertilizer is used. Concentrates in the stalk can be toxic to cattle.
So far, none have been found to be at too high for a feeding level.
Sorghum grasses can also develop prussic acid when a plant is stunted, and then re-grows with a little rain while still in a drought.
Austin County’s farmers and ranchers are on the front line in the battle.
Rick and Tina White of Cat Springs Farms have had to close for the summer, except for minor items and business from deer and rabbits.
“We’re suffering tremendously, and just trying to water the plants,” Tina White said.
“We had to drill a complete new well to meet the need, and take pressure off our house well. It is energy efficient and I am impressed with it,” she said.
White also said that the trees are still alive, and there are blueberries still on the vine due to the irrigation, but deer and rabbits are in each night to nibble the fruits because they are starving.
Also, production is down in the drought, and the blueberries are smaller, as well as less in number, not enough to sell in quantity.
In addition, the planned CenterPoint power line is scheduled to run directly over the house, trees and farm.
“First there is this drought, and then the power line. It’s just like waking up to a nightmare,” said White.
White also said that getting past the drought would take a major, long rain, such as from a hurricane, in order to overcome the damage already done.
Steven Poummer, manager of Underwood Ranch in Bellville, agreed, but prefers a steady rain to a storm.
“I don’t know if a hurricane would do it, maybe if we were on the west side it would help a little. I would rather see a tropical storm out there, and send us one or two inches a day for a couple of weeks,” Poummer said.
Poummer, manager of the 1,500-acre Bellville ranch as well as a 1,100 acre ranch in Fulshear, has used strategy to protect the land and cattle.
“We have had rotational grazing, moving cattle from one pasture to another. We usually have about 800 cows, but have sold 250, so now we have about 550 here,” he said.
Poummer also sees a problem coming.
“If there is no rain in the next two weeks, we will have to do something different. We still have a little water in our ponds, and some running springs, but people that have hay are using it now. There won’t be enough for the winter,” Puummer added.
Poummer said that if there is no rain in the next two or three weeks, hard decisions will have to be made.
The ranch uses an average of 1,100 bales of hay to get through the winter, but supplies are going down.
As well, Poummer does not see the advantage of the high price for cattle.
“Prices may be up, but so are commodities, so with input cost, we’re not doing any better,” he said.
Poummer also regretted that “mom and pop” ranches and farms are being pushed out by this situation. Making no money, they are forced out.
So, what do farmers and ranchers need to do to overcome this?
“They need to get their confidence back up,” said Poummer.
“They need a more consistent rain pattern, and re-invest in cattle. Most of them see the price of cattle high, so they’re not going to invest in them again. They can make more money in deer hunting,” he said.
Poummer said many will simply file for a property exemption, lease property for deer, and come out making $30,000 a year that way.
Anywhere we look, the answers are all similar. There has been no rain, and we must have a steady rain to even start a comeback from the drought.
The land is suffering, and animals are suffering, and it is affecting the people who live on the land economically.
In a recent Austin County Commissioners Court meeting, Precinct 1 Commissioner David Ottmer opened in prayer. It was short- “Lord, I ask only one thing. Please let it rain.”
From the county leaders to the rabbits and deer stalking for food, the drought of 2011 is taking its toll. It will continue until substantial rain falls.
