Drought Conditions Persist

Since the beginning of the year, Mid-Missouri has seen over three inches of rain but still remains in a moderate-to-severe drought condition. Missouri farmers say this cropping season has been very dry compared to normal conditions and hope to see rain this spring and moderate temperatures this summer. The ABC 17 Stormtrack team says we need consistent rainfall to overcome this drought and there is a better chance of rain coming this spring, but things are still uncertain. Farmers from across the state say things have already been “terrible.” They are doing what they can to combat the problem being more efficient by making less trips for fuel, fertilizer and do the bare minimum in labor. The price of corn has already increased, which farmers used to feed their livestock, and as these prices increase, many are wondering if they will impact the prices at the grocery store. “It ultimately impacts us with higher price food and you combine that with a lot of other things that go on across the government from a regulatory standpoint and the list goes on really,” Don Nikodim said of the Missouri Pork Association.