Every year it seems like I read about drought somewhere in the US having to sell cows because of the drought in their area. This year I see that in California they are having drought troubles and <a href="http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=841&ck=02A32AD2669E6FE298E607FE7CC0E1A0">having to sell cows</a> to try to adjust for the drought problems. <br />n<br />nAnother area having troubles with drought in the US is in the south east and I see <a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/business/article/0,1426,MCA_440_5589544,00.html">in this story</a> that they are having to sell cows because of the shortage of feed.<br />n<br />nMore stories about the drought in the south east can be found <a href="http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2007/06/drought-conditions-worsen-across.asp">here</a> and <a href="http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=722&NewsID=816467&CategoryID=3388&show=localnews&om=0">here</a>.<br />n<br />nDrought, the bane of existence for anybody involved in agriculture. We fear it, dread it and pray that it won't happen, but it does and we can't stop it. Inevitable as the tides in the oceans, droughts are a part of life we wish would go away. Watching the cloudless sky, day after day, wondering where the rain went wears on your soul. Another drain on your life is watching parched crops shrivel up and die and the grass turn brown and burn under the relentless beat of the hot sun scorching the ground and your back as you labor on trying to make things work for you as Mother Nature beats you down. To me one of the worst things though is watching the critters move around looking for a little better bite of feed to eat. That was last year. The grass was so dry and brittle that it had no flavor for them and very little nutrition. They did nothing but wander around looking for better feed to eat. At least they had some grass here in my country last year. The poor guys in the stories above are out of options. The sale barn is the last option left and that is one tough decision to make. Let your cows starve or get rid of them while you can before they get in any worse shape. Then you have to think about how you are going to replace them when the drought does break and Mother Nature allows the grass to grow green again. It's tough. <br />n<br />nI hate to read these stories. It has to be hard to sell your cows because of no feed. I have never had to do it but I have been close a few times. I've been in a drought now for a number of years. We might be wet now, but that is no guarantee the drought is over. It could hit with a fury again real quick. Normally I can find a way to get away without selling cows during a drought but the way the droughts are around the US my day might be coming. Might, I say, I hope not though.<br />n<br />nOne thing I have to say about this. As mean as it sounds these continued droughts around the country and guys having to sell cows has been one of thee of the big factors that has kept the cattle herd from growing and driving calf prices down due to oversupply. I know that sounds really mean. but it is the truth. I'm sure that thought doesn't help those that are having to sell their cows. It wouldn't help me in the same situation but I guess it makes the pill a little easier for the rest of us to swallow.<br />n<br />n<br />n<strong>You see, I had been riding with the storm clouds, and had come to earth as rain, and it was drought that I had killed with the power that the Six Grandfathers gave me. Black Elk</strong><br />n<br />n<br />n<br />n<br />n<br />