All the Pretty Horses

At least we hope it's what's for dinner. It has been so dry across Texas, and hay is scarce and expensive.... We know folks who have already run out of their 2 yr old hay supply. I've been waiting to hear from a dealer when he will have his (much more affordable than other dealers) hay cut & baled... but he has to have a rain on his field first. Thank God, we got a BIG rain tonight, so maybe his field got it, too. These reports are kinda old news (a week or so), but we're still hurting and will be for quite awhile.

DROUGHT LOSSES AT $4.1 BILLION
As of mid-august, estimated drought losses for TX reached $4.1 billion, eclipsing the $2.1 billion mark set in 1998, according to TX Co-Op Extension economists.
Crop losses are estimated at $2.5 billion and livestock $1.6 billion. The current drought equals the multi-year dry period of the 1950's and could go down as the worst ever without substantial rainfall by the end of the year, according to Extension officials.
In Oklahoma, all 77 counties were designated natural disaster areas on July 31 by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.
"Most of North TX, East TX and the Coastal Bend were in various stages of drought since May of last year, and hay supplies were depleted maintaining livestock over the summer and winter," said Dr. Travis Miller, Extension agronomist. "Much of the corn and soybean crop has been harvested for silage or hay, pastures are bare, and hay barns are empty. Much of the hay being fed is from out-of-state or along the Upper Coast, which has received favorable rains. Livestock water supplies are disappearing, and ranchers are unable to sustain herds with purchased hay and dry tanks."
According to the Palmer Drought Severity Index, as of August 8, the entire state is in severe to extreme drought, with the exception of the Upper Coast ("slightly wet") and the Trans-Pecos ("moderate drought").
"Cattle sales are up sharply from a year ago," said Dr. Carl Anderson, professor emeritus and Extension economist, "without rain soon, livestock herds will face further liquidation."
"Some crop and cow-calf operators can't financially withstand more losses and will be forced to seek other jobs or business alternatives."
- excerpted from TX A&M University System AgNews

PERRY SUSPENDS TRUCKING RESTRICTIONS for EMERGENCY DELIVERY OF HAY
Austin - Gov. Rick Perry has directed the TX Dept. of Transportation to temporarily waive certain trucking restrictions to allow the emergency delivery of hay to TX farmers and ranchers harmed by on-going drought conditions.
In a letter to Ric Williamson, chairman of the TX Transportation Commission, Perry said the U.S. Dept. of Ag. has estimated a 77% loss in hay production in TX, and Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs and the TX Farm Bureau have asked for help in expediting delivery of hay to TX.
"Hay importation from neighboring states less affected by drought will help TX producers survive the final hot months of the year," Perry wrote. His letter directs TXDoT to suspend the permitting requirements and legal height restriction for round hay bales, and associated permit fees, for carriers transporting round bales of hay. The suspension of those requirements will expire Oct. 31.
To ensure the safety of the traveling public, Perry said TXDoT must require loads exceeding 14 ft. in height to contact TXDoT's Motor Carrier Division to receive expedited routing. All other legal requirements, including licensing, registration, insurance, and safety, remain in place.
Perry earlier this year issued a similar directive for emergency hay deliveries, but that expired on April 30. - THE HORSE GAZETTE