By Mary Hightower
Some Arkansas ranchers are reaching into their reserve hay as drought intensifies across the state.
The April 9 map from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows 99.96 percent of Arkansas has some form of drought. Areas with the highest intensity of drought — exceptional drought — increased to 8.36 percent of the state from 3.86 percent two weeks before. Most of the exceptional drought is in northeast and north-central Arkansas, with a growing area concentrated in Perry County.
In its April 12 data, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that 74 percent of Arkansas’ pastures were in fair, poor or very poor condition, while 22 percent were good and 4 percent excellent. Hay was about the same, with 50 percent rated in fair condition, 26 percent poor or very poor, 23 percent good and 1 percent excellent.
“The forage situation in White County is pretty rough,” Brian Haller, White County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said on Monday. “Most have been feeding hay since October and are getting into their reserves. I have heard of several producers buying hay in fear that this year’s hay season won’t be good.”
In Arkansas, ranchers grow both winter and summer annual forages. Haller said, “our winter annuals are hurting from the drought. They are green but just not growing.
“The freeze on March 16 burned back ryegrass and oats pretty bad,” he said. “They are starting to green back up, but the lack of moisture is hampering the grow back.
“In White County, most farms averaged three-quarters of an inch of rain Saturday,” Haller said. “Some parts of the county got almost an inch. It was much needed and welcomed, but we need more.”
Kevin Lawson, Faulkner County extension agent, said the drought situation in his county was similar to White County.
Source : uada.edu