Drought hits SE Idaho but blow softened for area ranchers

As devastating dry conditions kill crops across the country counties in Idaho have begun declaring drought states of emergency.

In east Idaho, Bear Lake, Oneida and Bannock County have all declared drought states of emergency, but despite the dry weather, farmers and ranchers in Idaho may be much better off than those in neighboring states.

Dry conditions affect ranchers as bad corn crops cause the cost of feed to go higher and higher, but local rancher Chris Dalley said there’s no need to worry just yet.

“Worry isn’t going to do a whole lot of good because you can’t control the weather. It’s going to take a toll on the cost of our food,” Dalley said.

That worrying may be left for other states.

Idaho has just a few spots of moderate drought, according to federal agencies.

Far better off than Wyoming, Utah, or Nevada, where significant portions of those states are in extreme and severe drought conditions.

Representatives at the Idaho Farm Bureau said it comes down to our state having plenty of man-made and natural water reserves.

“We have irrigation. We have large reservoirs backing up water that stays over from one year to the next. And we have a large aquifer,” Farm Bureau PR Director John Thompson said.

And the nature of the agriculture business often means that deep problems for ranchers and farmers elsewhere can mean higher profit margins for locals.

“That’s the sad thing about agriculture is that usually it takes a catastrophe somewhere else for the next guy to survive,” Dalley said.

But the reservoirs and aquifers currently softening the drought blow in Idaho are drying out, and if drought continues farmers said Idaho could be hit as hard as anywhere

“If we don’t get a good snow pack this winter, we could be facing serious drought by next spring. We have dodged this bullet so far, but it could get us,” Thompson said.