By Jess Mancini, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Farmers are feeling the heat from the heat wave and drought.
For cattlemen, among the problems caused by the prolonged lack of rain is the lack of grass where the cows graze.
“The main problem is grass,” Suzanne Dietz, who with husband Jim owns and operates Ridge View Farm in Williamstown, said.
The Dietzes have started feeding hay to their roughly 35 head of cattle, hay that normally would be fed to the animals over the winter, she said.
“We really depend on our first and second cutting of hay to take our animals through the winter,” Dietz said. “There won’t be a second cutting this year.”
Other cattle farmers are doing the same, some who have been feeding hay for a while, causing a high demand and shortages and resulting in hay being imported from other states, she said.