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Subscribe to RSSFarmers in Missouri and across the Midwest are suffering through a historic drought leaving behind scorched pastures and dried-up ponds. NBC's Jay Gray reports.
“Normally they begin in July and go through the middle of August, but this year they started in June. So we've had an extraordinary amount of heat and lack of water."
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack designated all of Missouri’s 114 counties as disaster areas, enabling farmers to access federal assistance, in mid-July. As much as 93 percent of the state is suffering through extreme drought conditions.
David Franscka said it's the worst his family has seen in more than 50 years of dairy farming.
Paying more for feed than getting for milk
"This year, with the intense heat we've had and the lack of rain, we've had only two measurable rains since April 30,” said Franscka.
NBC's Jay Gray reports from a dairy farm in Bolivar, Mo., where farmers are struggling to pay sky-high hay and feed prices for their livestock, spurred on by the drought.
Ponds have dried up, forcing his family to haul as much as 8,000 gallons of water each day to the cattle herd. Pastures aren't producing any hay or grass for grazing either, leaving many farmers, like Franscka, with no choice but to buy feed – which right now costs more than the milk he's producing.
"'We've spent in excess of $150,000 over the last three months just on the added costs,” he said. “Anytime you're getting less for your milk than you're paying for your feed – it's not going to come out.”
“That's what's discouraging, knowing you’re going in the hole everyday money-wise,” he said. “But you have to keep hoping and holding on, thinking it's going to change."
Some smaller farms have been forced to close down – selling-off their cattle for slaughter.
Drought conditions plague much of the United States after a summer of scorching temperatures and a lack of rain. The dryness is affecting America's farmland, threatening crops like soybean and corn.
Franscka said he's sold 60 out of the 1,000 head of cattle he had at the start of the summer – to help pay the bills and keep the milk flowing until the rain does.
"You persevere day to day, and just try to do what you can do today to make it till tomorrow. Just keep praying to the good Lord that he's going to send some rain,” he said.
It’s a prayer that continues to echo across Missouri, and the entire Midwest.
As the drought continues, ranchers worry for the future especially now that the total number of cattle in the U.S. is already the smallest in 60 years. NBC's Kristen Dahlgren reports.
More coverage of the drought:
Drought sends Mississippi into ‘uncharted territory’
‘Best year ever’ for some farmers outside drought region
Drought expected to take toll at checkout
Americans tell their story of #Drought2012
In drought-stricken Wisconsin, farmers helping farmers
Emergency well drilling brings relief to farmers stricken by drought
Have you been affected by the worst drought in more than 50 years? Share your photos with us on Instagram, Tumblr or Twitter with the tag #Drought2012. You can also upload your photos in the box below.
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Well America needs to repent of her sins before God. God said in the bible, " If my people would repent and turn back to Me I would heal their land"
It's the people that actually believe in and pray to your god that are having all of the issues.
Maybe they are praying to the wrong one.
It's a lot easier to pray to God than try to actually solve problems. Religion is based on a giant "pass the buck" philosophy.
Maybe it's because we freed the slaves, or allowed women to vote. God doesn't approve of those either in the bible.
god said? the bible was written by people claiming to have heard voices.
David
Your god can't and won't do anything... look at all those poor animals suffering in the hands of men. Where is he (coward). He dont care about them, less for us who sinned.
Maybe its time for those farmers to start growing something and stop making money in the back of animals.
It's astonishing that anyone can refer to "the Lord" as "good."
Here is another way to get it to rain, fire a few volleys of skyrockets in the air.
I guarantee it's just as effective as praying.
Man said, not god.
There seem to be plenty of places where your god is not worshiped, yet they dont seem to have a problem with a lack of rainfall. Weird...
True. Funny how the article's author put "praying" in quotes like it's something strange. Then when tragedy strikes, atheists ask "Where's God?" Forgetting He loves the world so much that He gave his only son to die for our sins. We chase God out out of our schools, government, buildings etc., because some are "offended" and then beg for Him in tragedy. God does not work that way, he rewards loyalty with loyalty.
These same people who are "Praying" for rain refuse to accept the validity of global warming. Grill baby grill.
"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day... Teach a man to pray and he will starve to death while praying for fish."
You are an idiot
Sorry, that was for David Kinsman
TIMOTHY
He gave his only son to die for our sins.
1) Jesus was a pre-plan execution, just like million of cows, chicken, pigs, and every other animal we kill for food. Shouldn't we be just a loyal to them too.
God does not work that way, he rewards loyalty with loyalty
2) I have not seen him shield "ANY" living thing from harm, so the loyalty defense does not work....
Timothy1Mil you are idiot too. It takes a total jackass to say that God knows everything and has a reason for everything but then you think your prayers have something to do with it. Seriously, just so you know, this is the year 2012. Science, advanced knowledge all that stuff. Are you seriously quoting the bible and spouting off about children's supserstition? You people are such a lost cause because you condemn and write off those smart enough to admit that we don't have all the answers but that the idea of a God who centers around man on this insignificant spec of a planet in the vastness of an incomprehensible universe clearly makes sense. Seriously...there are like thousands of religions, each made up at some time over the eons by man to try to fill the void created by the curse/opportunity of self awareness and each of you idiots think yours is correct and secretly/not-secretly loathe other groups for not believing your rediculous version of what is nothing more than a self-centered fairy tale. Perhaps you and the rest of the fools need to pull your heads out of your collective backsides, see that the burning of fossil fuels is altering the amount of heat trapped on the planet and thusly the weather patterns, and look to solve what we have unwittingly created. Seriously, how can we live in this day and age with so many weak minded fools who seek solace in made up stories that glorify man in the absence of greater knowledge...? No wonder we are headed towards our own self-wrought extinction.
Do you know what is idiot exactly? Steven-1134633 Idiot fits you so well.
Chinese...no aspursions upon you for your english, just so you know...because you speak tons more english than I do Chinese...but I will say you lack any particular eloquence in making your unsubstantiated point.
Wow, fancy words...I speak English because I think it's practical..
Fair enough Chinese...and I suppose Enlgish is practical as Chinese is becoming more and more each day...but still, you do nothing to explain your question and point. That's fine. I guess it makes my point all the more.
My god, Zeus, kicks your god's ass.
Chinese...before I head off...thought this might be helpful for you as you seem to be unclear on an idiot as refenced in my comment about David Kinsman and Timothy1Mil...here you are.
An idiot, dolt, or dullard is a mentally deficient person, or someone who acts in a self-defeating or significantly counterproductive way. Archaically the word mome has also been used. The similar terms moron, imbecile, and cretin have all gained specialized meanings in modern times. An idiot is said to be idiotic, and to suffer from idiocy. A dunce is an idiot who is specifically incapable of learning. An idiot differs from a fool (who is unwise) and an ignoramus (who is uneducated/an ignorant), neither of which refers to someone with low intelligence.
I am confident in my use of the word to descibe the two dullards mentioned above...if you go around throwing the term at someone without a reason to back it up (unless you count getting over-insenced by comments by morons on this website as idiocy...which perhaps it is) it leaves you in the same light as the ones I referenced.
Vote for Romney another religious idiot who thinks that he can save the world. While gotten stincking rich in the process.
Bottom line is that there are to money people in this world and climate chance is only 1 thing of that.
Think what will happen when we have 10 billion of those 2 legged idiots running around. Extinction of the human race in the making, enjoy.
There won't be a prayer for us if we continue using fossil fuels. Global warming is REAL, and if you think that the drought will end by praying, and continue throwing CO2 into the air, you can just look at Texas, and see how just praying worked out for them.
GOT MILK ?.......it will cost the same as a gallon of gasoline !
Why didn't somebody tell me. I've been praying that it wouldn't rain. Umm let me know next time.
ergot poisoning
If prayin' doesn't work try water witching...
I wonder why it is that God is so upset with America just now ? Do mere humans truly think that they can stop and say a few "prayers" and convince God to HALT : Droughts, tornadoes,floods, pestilence,hurricanes, abortions and wars ? Really ?
Amen David!
Small world....I grew up less than 1/4 mile from there and even worked on their farm when I was younger (today I live in Phoenix). I know all of the Franskcas personally (as well as the surrounding farmers) they are really good people. I hope they get the much needed rain...I hate to see my former neighbors struggle.
Call Rick Perry!
Yeah, that whole praying to gawd is really working for the country.
Michelle Bachman has said that God speaks directly to her....whats her number ? Perhaps she will intercede.
Prayer...how to think you are helping when you are in actuality doing nothing.
It's called making yourself feel good about doing nothing.
Either way...its doing nothing.
it is so funny we have all the technology in the world yet when it comes to the basics of life we need GOD.this country has turned its back on GOD,why should HE bless this nation with anything.and to respond to the last comment, pal! I am a christian, and i know whom i pray to .so you can believe in GOD, or face him at judgement day.
What does technology have to do with rain? Nothing. Your post makes no sense. Rain is not a 'technology' - it is a naturally occurring phenomenon involving moisture, atmospheric pressure, cold/warm fronts, clouds, evaporation from bodies of water, temperature, etc. It is a scientifically explainable process that does not involve any deity whatsoever. Thanks to changing weather patterns (whether due to global warming or cyclical changes), rain has been affected. Not one iota of this is due to God or turning our back to God or whatever else.
As for me, if there indeed is a God as cruel and mean as you describe it, I will take the chance to face him at 'judgment day' because I have lived a good life, helping others less fortunate than myself, being kind to animals and not hurting anyone, laughing a lot, cooking plenty, and loving endlessly. I'll take my chances.
Did Sammy describe god as cruel and mean? As for having lived a good life, good is a relative term and only holds water among fellow humans. Take some LSD sometime and recheck your goodness.
Sammy - you are delusional.
When you understand why you reject all other gods, you will understand why I reject yours.
buzzzzzzzzz
when you become a RECOVERING Christian (she likes caps so I wanted to give her some), come back and play with the big kids.
May be dancing with the snakes will help.
Hey, how's that prayin' for god to make global climate change go away workin' out? Isn't god supposed to step in here real soon and "show us the way" or "provide" or somethin'? He can't POSSIBLY expect us to change our ways or quit $#itting on "his" planet, right? I mean, how inconvenient would that be?
John Deere is responding to the drought with a new tractor. It has no seat and no steering wheel. It's for farmers that have lost their asses and don't know where to turn.
That's funny! Dairy farmers are working on forty to fifty year old technology, leaving eight billion dollars of profit on the table every year, and waiting on someone to come and save them. I feel sorry for them, but they have to stop listening to the propaganda and start solving their own problems.
When we read Old Testament books like the Book of Joel, we see "the curse causeless does not come." God controls the rain. If America will repent and turn from sins like approval of abortion and approval of homsexuality, God will send rain. America, repent--turn from your sins and turn to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
And the verse I quoted is from Proverbs 26:2. Just so you know I know. :-)
You're kidding, right?
God controls the rain? Poor me, I thought it was due to moisture and clouds and such... Those science teachers lied to me... those meteorologists on TV lie to me (well, ok, they really do sometimes).
So, why does it rain in other countries that have abortion and homosexuality? Or is it only the American God who doesn't allow for rain?
Whereis Mrwonder
Don't you think there would be some kind of evidence to support the good results of prayer by now? Like people being healed via the prayers of christians vs not getting any prayers? And why don't limbs ever grow back? Kinda hard to fake that one I would imagine. You know, Bob's leg was blown off in Iraq. Bob comes back home and goes to church one Sunday. The congregation prays for Bob's leg to grow back. Suddenly Bob is walking around on his new leg! Holy Cow!
There should be some kind of evidence by now that prayer works and there isn't. What does that mean?
Wait for it... waaaaiit for it, Dogma...
"Because god works in mysterious ways"!!!
Fiction is fun, because you can have an answer for ANYthing!!!
And your god approved of slavery and killing 2 yr old baby boys. Good thing its nothing but myth.
Let the dairy farmer Republican corporates talk their corrupt OIL & FINANCIAL corportes into using their OIL PIPELINES FOR WATER from OCEAN WATER DESALINATION PLANTS to cope with the drought conditions, don't push the high prices on the AMERICAN PEOPLE like they're doing with their 3x's too high gasoline prices! They are solely responsible for the drought conditions because of their fossil fuel and refusal to use MAGNETICALLY-DRIVEN ELECTRICAL ENERGY which is 100 % NON-POLLUTANT, extremely cheap to manufacture, install, operate & maintain for home & auto electricity! This should have been done a long time ago!!!
The article is basically about a drought with people and their animals desperate to get through it, not really about the religion. That being said, do people really believe that praying to a god rather than taking action is the answer to ALL of America's problems? An age of entitlement coupled with an age of irresponsibility is scary. No America, prayer is not your only hope...people and responsible action are your only hope. Start fixing global warming, start using less resources, start with an attitude of sharing and caring. This is your only hope.
Why hasn't the Pres done more for the farmers?
Oh yeah he's got more important things to do (like campaigning) than worry about the American public.
So now it's Obama's fault that it hasn't rained? You want him there with a hose?
So which is it? You guys WANT government intervention, or you want government OUT of everything? And if government agencies are telling you WHY the global climate change is happening, and what has to change to fix, or at least slow that, but you don't believe it and you want them to do nothing... how can you complain that they aren't doing anything? F#$@! what some twisted logic!
I guess this means we can do away with milk subsidies.
Gary
And yet, a couple of days ago the President announced a $170 million effort where the government would be buying beef, pork, etc. and the posts were completely full of snide remarks about 'buying votes' and how it would make the price if food go up.
Really, make up your minds. Or is it that you just find fault with him regardless???
Jesus made the sacrifice of dying for our sins? Some sacrifice. He knew God, his father, who's one in the same, was going to resurrect him. Oh, I'm going to sacrifice myself so you'll owe me, then I'll come back to life and collect my debt from you for the rest of your life. Interesting scheme.
Because they would consider that 'socialism'. They do not want government intervention. Ever.
It's only socialism if you help someone other than white, redstate, republicans. Helping white redstate republicans is American and godly.....it's helping minority, blue state democrats that is socialism.
Hey, maybe those farmers could have one of those FEMA trailers when the farm goes bankrupt.
By now it should be clear to anyone with eyes, we need to sacrifice a virgin to Mt Saint Helens. We'll go to one of those bible belt states and find us a couple practicing abstinence. ;)
You folks are pulling our leg, aren't you?
Do you really think some supernatural being, the oil companies, or the Republicans caused the drought?
Get real!
Yeah, like prayer was EVER PROVEN to work.
Add a rain dance to your prayers, that will help just as much...
And continue to not get mad at the your corporate pimp, climate change deniers...
As the herd starts to thin out remember me in those prayers, at least it will help keep your mind off of reality.
Just keep praying to the Cosmic Sadist.
If prayin' don't work, maybe we should fall back on sacraficin' virgins?
Slappin' goat testicles?
Dancin' in a circle?
Those all seem like fine, sensible solutions backed by sound science.
Can you hear the rest of the civilized world laughing at us? They are. Trust me.
Just keep praying to the Cosmic Sadist and everything will be all right boys and girls.
The porn industry has jobs in san fernando valley or simi valley ca.
Sorry, Jesus doesn't hear you.
people are having a hard time all over i wish it would rain for them some think God and global warming are real who should they pray to?
What exactly was the reason for putting praying in quotes on the front page?
why do you think?
Have you ever heard that Missouri is the buckle of the bible belt?
I'd find myself a good Sioux medicine man and do a rain dance.
Yeah...that's it...pray to the God that did this and/or allowed it to happen. Superstitious crazy people.