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Drought takes its toll on California’s cattle producers

California is entering its fifth year of drought and it’s taking its toll on the state’s cattle producers.

For some, like Melanie Fowle of Etna, California, the drought’s impact is just too difficult to talk about.

“Yes, it’s a crisis—I can hardly talk about it,” says Fowle, her voice breaking with emotion.

Fowle tells Brownfield they’ve been forced to reduce their cow herd by 50 percent due to a lack of water and grass.

The same is true for Kevin Kester of Parkfield.

“We’re less than 50 percent of what we were five years ago,” Kester says. “But we’re hanging in there and we’re just going to keep hanging in there until Mother Nature blesses us with some rainfall and we can build our herd back up.”

There is a glimmer of hope. Forecasters say a strengthening El Nino could bring soaking rains to California starting this fall.  Jim Maxey of Fresno hopes they’re right.

“We are praying we have a good fall-winter-spring this year and get the right amount of moisture and right amount of snowpack,” Maxey says,” That will definitely help the cattle industry.”

Brownfield spoke with Fowle, Kester and Maxey at the recent Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver.

Photo courtesy sfgate.com