Posted on Jul 9, 2022
How an increasingly brutal Kansas climate threatens cattle’s health and ranchers' livelihoods
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The weather event that killed thousands of cattle in southwest Kansas last month was a rare combination of extreme factors. But it highlights the ongoing risk that heat stress poses for cattle, especially as climate change pushes temperatures higher.
HAYS, Kansas — Rancher Scott Whiting heard stories about all kinds of extreme weather growing up in western Kansas.
Blizzards, dry spells and heat waves commonly peppered the tales his parents and grandparents told about the land the family has lived on in Lane County for nearly 150 years.
So he knew that trying to shield cattle from the elements came with the job.
“It’s just a brutal area,” Whiting said. “It’s a land of extremes.”
But the combination of dangerous weather conditions that struck the region last month — killing thousands of cattle — took those extremes to another level.
HAYS, Kansas — Rancher Scott Whiting heard stories about all kinds of extreme weather growing up in western Kansas.
Blizzards, dry spells and heat waves commonly peppered the tales his parents and grandparents told about the land the family has lived on in Lane County for nearly 150 years.
So he knew that trying to shield cattle from the elements came with the job.
“It’s just a brutal area,” Whiting said. “It’s a land of extremes.”
But the combination of dangerous weather conditions that struck the region last month — killing thousands of cattle — took those extremes to another level.
How an increasingly brutal Kansas climate threatens cattle’s health and ranchers' livelihoods
Posted from kcur.org
Ranching
Climate Change
Posted 2 y ago
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When we lived in Arkansas we had a stretch of close to 30 days where the temp was over 100. Add to that the high humidity and chicken and cattle died throughout that period
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Maj (Join to see)
We are pretty close to that now. I'm tired of seeing 102 and 103 on my thermometer. I hope you live somewhere cooler now.
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SP5 Dennis Loberger
Don't miss the high temps with high humidity. We only get glimpses of it up here
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Whiting's main concern going forward is how the ongoing drought in western Kansas has stunted and shriveled the grass on his pasture. If the animals don’t get enough nutrition to stay strong, that could make them more vulnerable to the next heat wave.
And if the wrong weather conditions combine again like they did last month, he knows that protecting them from it might be out of his control.
“You go to every extreme you can think of,” Whiting said, “but sometimes nature can be pretty cruel.”
..."Whiting's main concern going forward is how the ongoing drought in western Kansas has stunted and shriveled the grass on his pasture. If the animals don’t get enough nutrition to stay strong, that could make them more vulnerable to the next heat wave.
And if the wrong weather conditions combine again like they did last month, he knows that protecting them from it might be out of his control.
“You go to every extreme you can think of,” Whiting said, “but sometimes nature can be pretty cruel.”
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