Livestock Auction Owner: Farmers and ranchers questioning futures

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Published on Monday, 02 April 2012 15:31

Without the green grass and water in the ponds due to the exceptional drought last year, many ranchers opted to sell their cattle and get out of the busy, at least temporarily.

Brandon Hickey, owner of the auction, says there are 700-800 fewer heads of cattle being sold a week compared to this time last year.

Based on what he's seen at his auction, Hickey said about 20 percent of his customers have said they won't get back into the business, but he thinks that percentage will be more like 10 when it's all said and done.

"We're starting to get enough moisture now that some of these farmers and ranchers are starting to think about stocking [the cattle] back up on their pasture," Hickey said.

For more details on this story, pick up the Monday, April 2, print edition of the Daily Elk Citian.