By Blake Jackson
Missouri's livestock farmers, battered by back-to-back droughts, are receiving a $6 million lifeline from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This federal grant, awarded in November as part of a broader rural investment, aims to bolster farms against future water woes.
The 2022 and 2023 droughts, unprecedented in Missouri since the 1950s, forced many farmers to make the harsh decision of reducing their herds due to depleted water and food sources. The new funding seeks to prevent such drastic measures by equipping farms with better water management tools.
"We're trying to capture as much on-farm as we can," says Jim Plassmeyer, director of Missouri's soil and water conservation program. This can involve tapping into new water sources, altering field designs to retain rainfall and irrigation runoff, and utilizing drought-resistant crops for grazing.
Plassmeyer emphasizes the potential long-term impact: "Everything we do to help farmers stay resilient and maintain their business benefits local economies across the state."
While the federal grant provides the financial fuel, the state is taking the wheel. Missouri officials are finalizing a partnership with the USDA and determining which projects will be prioritized. They'll develop criteria to evaluate proposals from farmers seeking assistance, with the aim of launching the first projects by summer 2024.
This $6 million investment represents a crucial step towards securing Missouri's livestock industry against the whims of weather. By empowering farmers with drought-resistant infrastructure and practices, the state hopes to safeguard not only individual businesses but also the communities that depend on them.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Missouri, Livestock