Half of the nation’s beef herd — around 16 million head — is in the Great Plains, and the industry generates more than $8.56 billion in annual cash receipts alone in Texas. But increasing climate variability, namely as it relates to precipitation, could begin to endanger the consistent viability of the region’s landscape to support the herd, according to a report released Monday by a group of university researchers. In the face of increased climate variability that will “challenge rangeland beef cattle production” in the region, the scientists recommend growing preparedness for weather extremes, namely precipitation in the southern Plains, in order to sustain adequate forage and feed supplies to support the herd. The research shows the number of forage-deficient years have increased in frequency from Kansas to Texas in the last few years, and that kind of variability is expected to continue to ramp up in coming years. See more from the new research.
Featured
-
Vilsack Advocates for Struggling Farmers in 2023 Farm Bill, Lawmakers Focus on Safety NetMarch 20, 2023
-
Wisconsin Battles Milk Hauling RegulationMarch 20, 2023
-
Beef Markets Strong in First QuarterMarch 20, 2023
-
Black Sea Grain Agreement Reached, Details UnclearMarch 21, 2023
-
Rain Falls too Late to Salvage Argentinian Soybean CropMarch 21, 2023