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(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Extreme drought conditions across the area is leading to a large increase in cattle selling across the area.
The St. Joseph Stockyards says that in a normal year, 50-60 cattle are sold each week during the summer but this year, around 600 are being sold.
The large increase is due to low water levels and poor hay production because of extreme drought conditions. The dry weather and high heat has made keeping cattle difficult.
Barry Boos, with the St. Joseph Stockyards, says that this year has been especially bad.
"The problem is no feed, no grass, no water. And it's a bad situation. And everybody is supposed to or just happen to sell all their herds," Boos said.
In some cases, farmers are being forced to sell their entire herd of cattle.
Boos believes that poor conditions dating back to 2017 have led to the sharp increase in cattle selling this year.
