Drought affecting local dairy farms - WFSB 3 Connecticut
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Connecticut dairy farmers are seeing the cost of grains such as soy skyrocket because of the drought in the Midwest.
Each day, a cow on average consumes 110 pounds of food, which is a mix of corn and other grains such as soy and cornmeal, according to Lincoln Chesmer, who is the owner of Graywall Farms in Lebanon.
The corn has grown well in Connecticut, which has had a lot of rainfall this season.
However, soy and cornmeal are grown in the Midwest, which is currently experiencing a drought. The grain crop is one of the worst in 25 years, which has caused the demand and the cost to rise, according to Chesmer.
Graywall Farms purchases 40 tons of grains or two trailer loads each week. A load cost between $4,000 and $5,000 in 2011 and this year costs between $7,000 and $8,000.
The higher operating costs and lower milk prices along with increased fuel prices, shipping costs and electricity have farmers worried if they can survive this recent rough patch.
"Basically you borrow money to get through and many farmers called and knew about the interview and say, 'Hey, we wonder if we're going to stay in business because of it,'" Chesmer said.
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