Despite welcome rainfall and cooler temperatures in some areas, severe drought remains a major concern for thousands of America’s farmers and ranchers. NCBA President Mike John of Huntsville, Missouri, says the drought is causing serious hardship for many cattle producers.

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John says scarce hay supplies are a serious concern that will only get worse, because hay is being fed to cattle now that would normally be reserved for the winter months.

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NCBA is working for federal drought assistance from Congress. About $4 billion in disaster assistance is now in the Senate Ag Appropriations bill, but much hard work remains if this provision is going to survive into the final budget. 

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NCBA also supports the efforts of Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and other key members of the Senate to convince the Treasury Secretary to grant an extension of the livestock replacement tax relief that was first passed in 2003. This measure allows livestock producers more time to replace breeding stock that was liquidated due to drought. John says it wouldn’t make sense to force producers to replace these animals at a time when hay and grazing are in such short supply, just to avoid an income tax hit on the animals they originally sold.

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