Those most affected by this crisis are farmers and ranchers throughout the area, a growing number of whom face mounting debts and loss of their land and livestock. Neither state nor federal government officials have offered much in the way of meaningful relief.

Some have likened this situation to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. In areas of Nebraska and Wyoming a scant two inches of rain has fallen all year--30 percent less than the worst drought years of the ‘30s and 80 percent below normal.

In the North Platte River area of Nebraska, some 90 percent of farmers are in financial trouble. Wheat production in the United States is down 14 percent from last year, and corn, soybean and cotton have experienced similar losses, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) figures. Many ranchers have been forced to sell off their herd, including their breeding stock and land, which will take years to recover. For thousands of ranchers this will be their last season farming.

Ron Gillen, 66, a small rancher in southwestern Colorado, has only 20 cows left from a herd of 450, after having been forced to sell off his livestock and land to cover his debts. Bank officials have advised him to find some other line of work, he noted. But after a lifetime of ranching, "where would I go to find work? Welcoming people at Wal-Mart?" Gillen stated. His story is being repeated throughout the region. Dry-land farmers, who either cannot afford the expensive irrigation water or are too far away to be able to use it, are most affected.

A jump in the number of livestock being brought to market has led to a decline in prices that farmers receive. According to a September USDA report, about 50 percent of cattle in the state were forced to market. Charles Klassen, a cattle producer from Crawford, Colorado, reported that in mid-June slaughter cattle were selling for 64 cents a pound. "I figure I lost about $100 per head on that bunch," he said. While cattle prices were up in September, hovering around 80 cents, the supply is smaller because of forced sales earlier in the summer. Hog prices have sunk to less than $20 per hundred weight in August from a high of $60 in 1997.

In states, such as North Dakota, the drought has caused $845 million in damage so far. Estimates are that $222 million was lost on crops and cattle and $623 million in related costs. Duane Claymore, who raises cattle on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, said 30 of the reservation’s 60 ranchers could be forced to sell off their herds and go out of business. "Some of those people still have debts from the last drought," he said.

With winter approaching and little hay available, prices for feed have soared. Hay, which is in short supply, is being sold for $115 to $175 per ton, up from $80 to $100 per ton just a year ago.  
 
Meager aid from government officials
With farmers and ranchers already facing billions of dollars in losses as a result of the drought, the state and federal governments have been slow to offer much in the way of assistance. President George Bush earlier this year said that any drought aid for farmers and ranchers would have to come out of the 2002 farm bill enacted in May. Finally, in September the Bush administration announced that $752 million would be made available to western ranchers most affected by the drought. Maximum payouts will be no higher than $40,000. Under this plan ranchers would receive up $18 per head of beef cattle, $31.50 for dairy cows, and $4.50 for sheep.

The National Farmers Union and the National Farmers Organization are backing a bill pending in Congress sponsored by South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle that would release $6 billion in drought relief, separate from the federal budget.

At the end of September, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman authorized the release of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for emergency grazing and haying. Much of the hay and grass on these lands, however, are already dried up. Genie Voloshin, a Moffat County rancher, told the local paper that she usually gets enough hay--about 850 bales--to feed the small number of cattle she keeps from harvesting 12 acres. This year, out of 34 acres she pulled just 250 bales.

The CRP is a federal program that offers payments and assistance to remove cropland from production and plant acres in grass. Government officials have announced that CRP annual rental payments will be reduced 25 percent to account for the areas hayed or grazed. Only if a farmer donates the grass will previous payment levels be maintained.

This is in stark contrast to the solidarity shown by farmers around the country who have donated hay to the drought stricken areas.  
 
Farmers organize solidarity ‘haylifts’
Several "haylifts" have been organized by farmers and others to try and ease the affects of the drought. Efforts have been organized in Oregon, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mississippi, and Indiana to ranchers in the west and southwest who need hay.

One effort was begun in July by the Janowiak family in Wisconsin. Matt Janowiak, who currently lives in Durango, Colorado, and works for the Bureau of Land Management, contacted his family in Merrill, Wisconsin. "This drought was just wiping people out in Colorado while Wisconsin was having a good year," said Barb Janowiak. Matt asked the family if they would help coordinate the donations and transportation. Jim and Barbara Janowiak said yes. As word started to get around, tons of hay were donated. "We’ve had over 80 farmers donate to the effort so far. Over 2,000 tons has been received and more trains are being lined up to take the hay," stated Barb Janowiak.

The Janowiaks are also appealing to Iowa farmers for help. An article in The Iowa Farmer Today described the "grass roots" efforts to provide needed aid. Eastern Colorado ranchers are willing to make weekend trips up to Iowa to pick up the hay to save on transportation costs, the journal reported.

A haylift has also been organized from the Klamath Basin in Oregon with farmers there donating in just one week 350 tons of hay and money to cover the cost of diesel to drive the loads. Independent truckers have donated their rigs to bring the hay to Trinidad, Colorado. Other solidarity efforts have been made from farmers in the Midwest and upper Midwest who have not been effected by the drought.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home