Drought Putting Thousands Of Cattle Up For Sale
Keloland.com
Some say parts of central South Dakota may be drier now than during the dust bowl years in the 1930′s. The severe drought is forcing many ranchers to make tough decisions, like selling off their entire herds just to keep the animals from starving to death. And sales at a livestock auction in Campbell County have almost doubled this year.
As livestock are unloaded the pens at the Herreid Livestock Market fill up. It’s a sight that reminds ranchers and farmers of just how bleak the situation is becoming in drought stricken central South Dakota.
Co-owner and Manager of Herreid Livestock Market Herman Schumacher says, “It’s as tough a time as I’ve ever seen in the cattle industry as far as weather is concerned.”
President of the Campbell County Bank Bruce Brandner says, “It’s come down to buy hay, move the cattle out of the country, or just have to sell the whole herd.”
