KERN COUNTY, CA - The statewide drought is hitting ranchers here in Kern County harder than ever.
While a state of emergency has been declared, local agriculture officials are hoping local and federal governments declare a disaster.
"We should have a couple inches of green grass right now and it should be thick and full and it's not."
Instead, damaged yellow grass is what rancher Jack Labors is working with during this drought. It's forcing him and other ranchers to take a financial hit by feeding his cattle tons of hay.
"A lot of guys are having to sell their herds and a big portion of them, they're trying to hold on as best as they can by feeding as much hay as they can, but it's real expensive to feed that hay," Labors said.
Labors says without the natural green grass to feed on, the cows lose weight, won't breed, and get sick from the stress of not having enough food. He says his costs have doubled already this year and will likely double again.
"We generally feed about 75 tons of hay every year on this ranch. It's kind of a given, and this year we're already at 150 and talking about the next month we may have to buy another 50 ton," Labors said.
"Cattle ranchers have stated that this is the worst that they've had since the 1970's."
Deputy Director of Kern's Agriculture Commission, Edward Greynolds, says in addition to the drought, recent freeze damage dried out the range land, valued at $14.5 million.
"It's just a continuing, worsening situation and ranchers are reporting at this time 100 percent loss of range that their cattle or sheep can graze on," Greynolds said.
This year's drought will be felt for many years to come as these herds are generations worth of work. But, Labors says cattlemen are resilient and will find some way to survive.
"You just gotta weather the storm and hope for the best."
On Tuesday, the Agriculture Commission will present a damage assessment in hopes that county, state and federal governments will declare a drought disaster. Possibly leading to low interest loans for cattlemen like Jack Labors, so they can weather the financial storm that lies ahead.
While a state of emergency has been declared, local agriculture officials are hoping local and federal governments declare a disaster.
"We should have a couple inches of green grass right now and it should be thick and full and it's not."
Instead, damaged yellow grass is what rancher Jack Labors is working with during this drought. It's forcing him and other ranchers to take a financial hit by feeding his cattle tons of hay.
"A lot of guys are having to sell their herds and a big portion of them, they're trying to hold on as best as they can by feeding as much hay as they can, but it's real expensive to feed that hay," Labors said.
Labors says without the natural green grass to feed on, the cows lose weight, won't breed, and get sick from the stress of not having enough food. He says his costs have doubled already this year and will likely double again.
"We generally feed about 75 tons of hay every year on this ranch. It's kind of a given, and this year we're already at 150 and talking about the next month we may have to buy another 50 ton," Labors said.
"Cattle ranchers have stated that this is the worst that they've had since the 1970's."
Deputy Director of Kern's Agriculture Commission, Edward Greynolds, says in addition to the drought, recent freeze damage dried out the range land, valued at $14.5 million.
"It's just a continuing, worsening situation and ranchers are reporting at this time 100 percent loss of range that their cattle or sheep can graze on," Greynolds said.
This year's drought will be felt for many years to come as these herds are generations worth of work. But, Labors says cattlemen are resilient and will find some way to survive.
"You just gotta weather the storm and hope for the best."
On Tuesday, the Agriculture Commission will present a damage assessment in hopes that county, state and federal governments will declare a drought disaster. Possibly leading to low interest loans for cattlemen like Jack Labors, so they can weather the financial storm that lies ahead.