Drought. Drought. And more drought. You probably get tired of hearing me talk about it and I know those of you affected are tired of having to deal with it.

Again this year many areas are facing severe drought. You would think that after the past few years we would know what to do and make appropriate adjustments right away. But I think there are some important differences between this year's drought and those we have experienced the past few years.

For starters, this year the drought has affected pastures and crops much earlier than most other years. Cool-season grasses are virtually done growing for the year; even with good rainfall they will no longer produce like they would have if moisture had been available during spring.

Warm-season grasses still can respond well if you get decent rainfall here yet in June. But if it waits until mid-July before it rains very much, these grasses also will have little ability to grow.

Secondly, the economics of feeding your way out of drought has changed dramatically. Before you could find hay for thirty, forty, or at most sixty dollars per ton. Now hay already is running eighty to one hundred dollars per ton. And grain prices are up, too, for those of you limit feeding corn. Can you really afford to feed all your cows until next spring? And how much rain will you have by then?

This year's drought is especially tough for you livestock producers who rely on pasture. It's time for some tough decisions.