Dry Conditions Affect Price of Beef - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

If rain doesn't fall soon, area cattle ranchers say get ready for a price change when it comes to beef.

Mike Hilde knows his cows. As a cattle rancher and manager of central livestock in west Fargo, he says the cattle in the area are in dire need of some water. "We need some substantial rain here in a short period of time or things will get more critical than they are already," says Hilde.

Hilde says the lack of rain has led to short pasture making it hard for ranchers to provide cows with the proper nutrition. "With the pasture being short were dealing with the lack of water. It's getting to be a serious problem," says Hilde. With the lack of rainfall, Hilde says more cows are being sent to the butcher sooner than they typically would, making the price of beef go down, just for now. "It probably has gone done about $10 to $12," says Hilde. Butcher Wayne Rheault of Meats by John and Wayne says prices have been on the rise most of the summer but are starting to notice the drop.

"We've noticed a downward trend. Alot of cattle are going to market. Prices will have to start going down," says Rheault. But for Hilde, he thinks that if it doesn't rain soon, those low prices will only last for so long. "Ultimately the price of beef will go up," says Hilde.

 Hilde also says that the cattle numbers in the state are the lowest they've been in 50 years.