Carl Schroer, an animal nutrition specialist with Archer Daniels Midland, advised nearly 100 area cattlemen attending a luncheon Friday at White Mule Winery, that up to 30 percent of hay wasted in feeding livestock could be the margin of their surviving the current drought conditions without sacrificing their investment in their cattle herds.

“We’ve all been here before,” said Schroer, who lives and farms in the Treloar community across the Missouri River from New Haven, recalling droughts in 1988, 2012, and 2018. He advised farmers to have their hay tested to figure out which nutritional supplements they may want to add into their feeding programs.

He strongly suggested using ring feeders, or chopping machines, for their large bales to reduce waste on the feedlot. Feeding those bales, he noted, typically means a loss of up to 30 percent from the outer ring due to the elements.

“Manage your hay feeding systems,” said Schroer. “Save 30 percent on waste. That may be the 30 percent we need” to remain viable in this industry.

Cattlemen and women from Owensville, Hermann, Beaufort, Gerald, Rhineland and the surrounding area were in attendance and shared a beef brisket meal.

Also offering suggestions on surviving the current drought was Hannah Heintz with the Farm Services Agency based in Linn.

She told producers about mileage reimbursements which were available for those who must travel distances to purchase hay. She also reminded cattlemen they can qualify for drought assistance payments which are triggered after eight consecutive weeks of a drought declaration.

Gasconade County cattlemen are currently eligible and Franklin County farmers are four weeks into their eligibility time frame. She expects Franklin County to hit the eight-week mark sometime this month.

Schroer also facilitated a Zoom presentation which shared current crop forecasts across the Midwest and nation. Acreage planted, not planted, and expectations on yields across the Midwest — which is currently blanketed by moderate to severe drought — were also presented.

Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources announced this week the Drought Assessment Committee will convene Tuesday, July 25, to discuss a comprehensive state and federal response to the drought affecting various portions of the state. It will be the committee’s second meeting since Gov. Mike Parson issued a drought alert on May 31 through Executive Order 23-05.

The Drought Assessment Committee will meet from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 25, at the Lewis and Clark State Office Building, 1101 North Riverside Drive in Jefferson City. The meeting is open to the public and will also be livestreamed via Webex at stateofmo.webex.com/stateofmo/j.php?MTID=ma6a8f98f4766df57acfaf3f09d31f157.

Parson in June announced the availability and process for Missouri family farms to obtain emergency hay and water:

• Boat ramps at 24 Missouri state parks are open for farmers to collect water with almost 700 acres available for haying at 17 state parks.

• Boat ramps at 36 Missouri Department of Conservation areas are also now open for water collection.

• The Missouri Department of Transportation is offering special overwidth hauling permits at no charge to help farmers and ranchers move hay.

The Drought Assessment Committee is composed of representatives from state and federal partner agencies who provide information, recommendations and coordination to mitigate impacts of the drought. Executive Order 23-05 declared a drought alert for Missouri counties that are in moderate, severe or extreme drought.

Residents are encouraged to assist local, state and national decision makers better understand drought conditions in their area by submitting a survey form via the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) service at droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx.

Updated drought information, including a link to the national drought conditions reporting survey and a U.S. Drought Monitor map of Missouri, is available at dnr.mo.gov/drought.