Maryland’s drought is forcing beef and dairy farmers to feed their herds winter stockpiles of hay now, a situation that could shrink profits and send them out to buy hay this winter.
“That is a sickening feeling,” said Ron Holter of the prospect of buying hay. That’s “going to cut into the profit picture this year.”
Holter, 42, who runs Holterholm Farms in Jefferson, said his 115 dairy cows are producing 20 percent less milk than normal because of the dry inedible pasture.
Holter became a certified organic dairy farmer in July, meaning he feeds his cows hay grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Although he expected profits this year because organic milk usually sells for more than non-organic, Holter said he should break about even.
Many farmers began worrying about whether they would have to dip into their winter hay, which usually lasts through the winter and into the following year, around August.
According to the National Weather Service, nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell at its Hagerstown measuring station in August, but September’s rainfall was too little to measure. The weather service said rainfall should be about normal for October, about 3 inches.
Compared to last year, precipitation in Maryland since January has been especially low in the western half of the state. Hagerstown recorded 6 fewer inches of rainfall than last year and a Frostburg station recorded 7 fewer inches. The numbers are from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
No rain combined with a light fall hay harvest is creating supply problems at Clagett Farm in Upper Marlboro. Michael Heller, who manages the farm, already sold some of his cows for meat and plans to sell others. Other farmers, he said, lose out on the chance to sell extra hay to horse breeders because they will need it for their herds.
Typically, Heller said, his 55 beef cows graze in the pastures at Clagett into November, but that won’t be possible unless it rains at least two inches in coming weeks.
“We’d like a good soaking rain,” he said.
Showers at the end of April, an inch toward the end of June and another inch at the end of August were helpful, said Eric Rice, a beef cattle and fruit farmer in Midd
“That is a sickening feeling,” said Ron Holter of the prospect of buying hay. That’s “going to cut into the profit picture this year.”
Holter, 42, who runs Holterholm Farms in Jefferson, said his 115 dairy cows are producing 20 percent less milk than normal because of the dry inedible pasture.
Holter became a certified organic dairy farmer in July, meaning he feeds his cows hay grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Although he expected profits this year because organic milk usually sells for more than non-organic, Holter said he should break about even.
Many farmers began worrying about whether they would have to dip into their winter hay, which usually lasts through the winter and into the following year, around August.
According to the National Weather Service, nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell at its Hagerstown measuring station in August, but September’s rainfall was too little to measure. The weather service said rainfall should be about normal for October, about 3 inches.
Compared to last year, precipitation in Maryland since January has been especially low in the western half of the state. Hagerstown recorded 6 fewer inches of rainfall than last year and a Frostburg station recorded 7 fewer inches. The numbers are from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
No rain combined with a light fall hay harvest is creating supply problems at Clagett Farm in Upper Marlboro. Michael Heller, who manages the farm, already sold some of his cows for meat and plans to sell others. Other farmers, he said, lose out on the chance to sell extra hay to horse breeders because they will need it for their herds.
Typically, Heller said, his 55 beef cows graze in the pastures at Clagett into November, but that won’t be possible unless it rains at least two inches in coming weeks.
“We’d like a good soaking rain,” he said.
Showers at the end of April, an inch toward the end of June and another inch at the end of August were helpful, said Eric Rice, a beef cattle and fruit farmer in Midd
