Hay farmers in Central Oregon face challenges from drought, water shortages

Central Oregon hay farmers have faced challenges this year with water shortages, drought conditions and supply chain issues.

It all spells more struggles and less profits as farmers plant smaller crops and ranchers raise smaller herds.

“Last year was the worst, especially in Central Oregon,” said Mylen Bohle, Oregon State University Crook County Extension Service agronomist. “There will be farms for sale because of this.

“They were short tens of millions in production.”

Central Oregon farmers are allotted water from area water districts to irrigate their farms, but when the water is turned off midsummer, or they receive one-third of the water they need to grow crops, as happened this year, smaller farm yields cut into their ability to grow crops. Rainfall and snow were 60% to 70% below normal, Bohle said.

Read more: https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/hay-farmers-in-central-oregon-face-challenges-from-drought-water-shortages/article_6072cdf4-46fe-11ec-a3e8-1f5d563c643f.html