British Columbia rancher Suzanne Fradette had just got off the phone with a hay broker who had grim news amid an ongoing drought that has sent feed prices soaring: 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 bad out there.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got a fairly small herd, like 140 head, but we are thinking it害羞草研究所檚 going to be about $100,000 this year for hay,害羞草研究所� said Fradette.

That害羞草研究所檚 a 30-per-cent jump compared to recent years, and a painful price for a relatively small ranch.

Fradette runs the Back Valley Ranch ranch with partner Jerry Steves in the Deadmans害羞草研究所� area between Savona and Cache Creek, about 350 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

Fradette said they are just 害羞草研究所渒eeping their heads above water,害羞草研究所� getting by one day at a time. Feeding their herd costs about $700 per day.

Fradette and Steves aren害羞草研究所檛 alone in their plight, with drought conditions pushing up feed prices across much of the country.

Agriculture Canada害羞草研究所檚 most recent drought monitor report says 76 per cent of the country害羞草研究所檚 agricultural landscape is either abnormally dry or experiencing moderate to severe drought this summer.

The B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness says most of the province remains at either Level 4 or 5 drought conditions, urging people and businesses to continue to conserve water, even as the first rain in more than a month falls this week on Metro Vancouver.

Low precipitation and historically early snowmelt have already pushed eight of B.C.害羞草研究所檚 34 water basins into the worst Level 5 drought category, when all efforts should be made to conserve water and protect critical environmental flows. A further 13 are at level 4, meaning harm to ecosystems and communities is likely.

Fradette said that in previous years, her phone would be ringing briskly with offers of hay to feed her livestock, but things have changed this year.

害羞草研究所淭his time, I害羞草研究所檓 trying to phone around about it. There is no hay,害羞草研究所� said Fradette.

Fradette said ranchers and farmers are struggling to get by.

害羞草研究所淚 always make the joke, I害羞草研究所檓 like, 害羞草研究所業 don害羞草研究所檛 want to be rich, rich. I just want to be change-my-oil-when-I-need-to rich.害羞草研究所� That害羞草研究所檚 our goal right there,害羞草研究所� said Fradette.

Andy Wolfe operates Mount Lehman Farm, a family-owned beef ranch with 140 head of cattle in Abbotsford, B.C.

He said that thanks to 害羞草研究所渉is farmer intuition,害羞草研究所� he planned ahead this year to find three different suppliers to secure enough hay to cover him until next year.

害羞草研究所淚 basically took all the supply I could get from about three different local suppliers where normally I would be dealing with just one.害羞草研究所�

Wolfe said loss of farmland to industrial usage led to shrinking production of hay, a problem compounded by the drought.

He said hay prices were skyrocketing. Large bales that cost $65 last year are now $130, said Wolfe, and even that price required negotiation with suppliers.

害羞草研究所淢ost people are paying way more,害羞草研究所� said Wolfe, adding that some ranchers had to downsize their herd because of the hay shortage.

Although Wolfe said he has enough hay to make it through the year, he害羞草研究所檚 already worrying about next year.

害羞草研究所淢y concern is if this year害羞草研究所檚 drought is going to affect next year害羞草研究所檚 prices,害羞草研究所� said Wolfe.

害羞草研究所淚 made it through this year and I am going to be OK this winter, but if the drought continues, I don害羞草研究所檛 know what I害羞草研究所檓 going to have to pay for hay. Next year is my biggest concern.害羞草研究所�

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