Last summer, they took a beating from the drought. But this year, farmers in Greene County are experiencing a shortage of hay as a result of this spring’s flooding, which has consequences for raising livestock.
Keith Baxter is a seventh generation cattle farmer in Greene County who grows hay for his livestock. He says the rain has put his crop yields at least 30 days behind schedule, and hay that has been planted has suffered water damage.
Baxter says, “The quality of the forage we’re putting up is diminished, so it’s going to be more expensive to supplement our cattle through the next winter.”
The month of May was the third wettest on record for Springfield in terms of rainfall, with 13 inches recorded, according to the National Weather Service.