Rashleigh is elated that his hay - which might otherwise spoil where it lies - is going to where it’s needed. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said the losses “have been heartbreaking and recovering them will take time, commitment and support.” On Tuesday, provincial and federal governments announced $100 million in funding to support producers with relocation and feed costs. Selling off cows means ranchers won’t have any means to produce calves next year or in the future. Some ranchers are selling out just to recover costs. Wildfires are destroying grazing lands forcing the relocation of some herds. He has already had to sell off a herd of contract yearling cattle in July, as opposed to the fall, just to preserve the precious grass and hay he has left for about 60 ewes and lambs and a herd of 50 cows.įarmers across the west face a perfect storm amid a prolonged drought that has depleted water sources and hay crops, and sent grain prices higher as yields whither in the heat and pests such as grasshoppers proliferate. The further east, the higher the shipping cost.įor Kitchen, the cost is higher than a dry bale he would normally buy, but, under the circumstances, the extra cost is worth keeping his operation afloat. Shipping ranges from $33 a bale to Kamloops and more than $40 to Kelowna. He’s selling the bales for $50 each - the cost to produce them. Rashleigh said he isn’t profiting from the sales. Rashleigh’s product is called haylage, as it is baled with a high moisture content and nutrient rich for livestock. Rashleigh shipped two semi-truck liner loads last Friday - one to a dairy in Armstrong and the other to rancher northeast of Kamloops - and loaded another two on Wednesday - for Kitchen’s Grassland Grazers Ranch and a farm near Kelowna.Įvery load carries 60 big round bales with each bale weighing about 950 pounds. Kitchen said his markets in a normal year are from Washington or Alberta, but those hay regions also have shortages because of drought. They’re in the same boat, either selling some, or everything off, or looking for hay.” “For a lot of the 200-cow guys … the hay crop is about 40% of normal. “Lots of our neighbours are destocking,” Kitchen said in an interview from his ranch near Beaverdell.

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