By KRWG News
New Mexico – Drought conditions across eastern New Mexico are making it a difficult year for farmers and ranchers. Alfalfa crops are down and not as much wheat is growing. Cattle growers say it's costing more to move herds to better grazing areas.
Farmer Gene Massey tells the Portales News-Tribune his dry land wheat produced 5-6 bushels an acre in fields that grew wheat last year. In 2010, his fields produced 20 bushels an acre. The Roosevelt County average is 15 bushels of wheat
Cattle growers say droughts tend to cost an extra $10,000 to $20,000 a month, most of it for feed. Fuel costs more because of moving livestock. And cattle growers are also picking up extra costs from pumping water for livestock tanks.
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Information from: Portales News-Tribune, http://www.pntonline.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.