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Forage shortage a concern, but Sandhills is in good shape

A shortage of forage is a growing concern in many of the top cow-calf states that are being impacted by drought.

But one major cattle-producing area—the Nebraska Sandhills—is having a good year so far, says Terry Cone, a cattleman and bank ag loan officer from Burwell, Nebraska.

“Things are really good in our area. Crops look tremendous and the hay crop is tremendous,” Cone says. “With this last week of 90 degree weather, lots of hay got put up. Pasture conditions are really good with plenty of moisture. We are in really good shape in our immediate area.”

From a cattle production standpoint, drought conditions are most severe in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, although parts of Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas and Montana are also experiencing very dry conditions.

AUDIO: Terry Cone