The hay shortage caused by drought and wildfires in the province has hit an all time high, leaving farmers with irredeemable choices.
Farmers and ranchers are selling off their cattle, including mature cows, says Mike Pritchard, manager of the BC Livestock Producers cooperative in Vanderhoof and president of the Nechako Valley Regional Cattlemens Association.
In July when cattle farmers first sounded the alarm for hay-shortage, the provincial government and BC Cattlemen’s Association announced they would help them source hay and feed.
READ MORE: Drought causes havoc for Burns Lake ranchers
However, that did not work for people in the Highway 16 corridor, said Pritchard, adding that the closest match they found was in northwestern US, making it an expensive alternative ($500 per tonne) due...