In Blanco County, a rancher "Don Casey" has had this land in his family since the 1900's. It dates back to Casey's great-great-great Grandfather, but this drought in Texas may end that legacy for him and his family. In the past 12 months, Mr. Casey has measured a total of 1.6" of rain.
Since the drought started in 2009, he has seen the price of feeder corn triple to about $400 a ton, the price of hay that used to be $30 a bale skyrocket to $170 a bale. So he has decided to extend the diet of his cows to cotton by-products, which is also known as "gin-trash, the bit of leaf, burr, and seed left after the plants have been through the cotton gin."
In the article by the Austin American Statesman www.statesman.com/news/local/texas-ranchers-farmers-seeing-record-losses-in-grip-1917547.html Patrick Beach writes,"agricultural losses attributed to the drought have reached a record of $5.2 billion and processing plants and other businesses that serve the farmers and ranchers, the total economic impact hits $8.7 billion."
I think that this article is worth reading because this situation is going to affect us in the long run. The price of beef, the price of gas, and the price it takes for these farmers to keep their herds alive will increase as the drought continues. The drought could and most likely will affect our lives in one or another. I think it is one of duties as Texans to really think about who we are putting in the offices of State and local Government.
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