Tennessee Valley farmers facing the fallout of this year’s drought

FAYETTE, TN. (WAFF) - Local farmers are now starting to see the effects of this year’s drought.

Shane Southern’s cattle farm in Lincoln County is usually quiet until his cows hear him start his feed truck. His cows know that when they see his truck, it’s time to eat. But after this year’s drought, each ride in the truck for Southern means another day drained from his feedstock.

“This year has been very tough,” Southern, the owner of Kickin’ S Cattle said.

Southern’s corn suppliers only yielded a third compared to last year due to the drought. Less corn and seed meant he had to tap into his hay supply a month early.

“That was 60 to 90 rolls of hay that we didn’t plan on feeding that we had to feed,” Southern said.

Southern uses about 350 rolls per year, one roll a day on each field. And at $70 a roll, that hits his income hard-- but not as hard as the alternative.

“Could cost $70 to $80 a roll or sell your cattle, that’s your only two options,” Southern said.

This game of supply and demand can end up with you losing at the grocery store.

“And if the mommas [aren’t] eating what they need to supplement their body then they’re not passing it on to their calves,” Southern said. “Well if their calves don’t get it then their calves don’t grow, so when it comes to market time, they don’t benefit from that. If they don’t eat they don’t grow.”

Lawmakers are pushing to sign a new farm bill that could bring relief to struggling farmers. The 2018 farm bill expired at the end of September, and a new one must be passed by December 20.

Until that happens, Southern is left to hope that his cows continue to see his feed truck throughout the winter.

“All you can do is just hope and pray to the Good Lord that we bought enough to get us through the hard times,” Southern said.

Southern said the best way to support local farmers is to buy directly from farm to table from local farmers like himself.

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