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Kansas ag director says drought couldn’t have come at a worse time

The agriculture director of a Midwestern state says drought is having devastating impacts on farmers and ranchers.

“It’s pretty widespread.  It probably couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

Mike Beam of Kansas tells Brownfield parts of the state have had timely rains, but other areas have been waiting for relief for almost a year. “We went through this heat spell and in some cases even the irrigation can’t keep up. We’re seeing a lot of loss in production and an increase in expenses.”

He says cattle producers are feeling the heat, too. “Pastures are drying up.  The cattle runs, I haven’t seen the exact numbers, but I know the cattle runs at the livestock markets picked up because people care culling down and thinning out their herds.  Their grazing resources have virtually burned up.”

Governor Laura Kelly as activated the state’s drought management team, which allows producers to access low interest loans.

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