News

Actions

Utah farmers hurt by dry weather

Posted at 6:04 PM, Aug 11, 2012
and last updated 2012-08-12 00:37:13-04

CORRINE, Box Elder County, Utah - Hot, dry weather across the nation are bad news for Utah's farmers, who say it's one of the worst summers for them in years. Crop yields are predicted to be the lowest in decades, which means higher food prices for everyone.

Farmers say they're having to make tough decisions about how much wheat and corn to grow and whether or not to keep cattle. Dry-land farmers who rely on rain, are struggling with a mild winter and hot summer.

All 29 counties in Utah are included in the federal disaster declaration for this year's drought, something farmer Joel Ferry says is a problem that will impact everyone.

"A lot of people when they hear drought, they think their yard is going to turn a little bit brown or they think they won't be able to fill up their swimming pool, and those are serious impacts of a drought but this is my livelihood," said Ferry.

The US Dept. of Agriculture project corn production will be down 17 percent this year; the lowest it's been since 2006.

Farmers say they can go a summer without rain, but they can't go another winter without snow.