Heat + Drought = Crop and Beef Problems

The heat and lack of rain is killing your yard and making you cranky!

Scorching heat is affecting grain crops and the Texas Beef Industry! Dr. Ron Dill with A&M Agriculture and Life Services says it will affect the beef industry for a while. "Probably going to run short of grass and hay. The Panhandle and West Texas seem to be in pretty good shape - but the rest of us are not! Elevated beef prices are probably going to be with us for the next three to four years!

And regarding the lack of rain: "On the crop side: There are some regions that are dry and some that are actually in pretty good shape. Corn and soy beans that dictate the prices of grains - and corn hasn't gone up that much!" Heat and lack of rain together will soon affect your grocery bill. Dr. Dill saying it's even harder on farmers and ranchers than is it on you! "A lot of ranchers will be very short of forage - and in the Cow Business, our business is converting forage into beef! We'll see a decline in beef production in the next couple of years!"

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And the lack of rain is a contributor as well. "Anything that relies on rain water for support will suffer a yield loss! We're going to have a good cotton crop out in West Texas and The Panhandle. Last year they didn't even have a crop at all --- so they deserve to have one this year!"

Dr. Dill says farmers are questioning if this weather will actually lead to another busted year. You'll see the results soon on your grocery story aisles.

photo:Getty