Klaus Reichardt, president and CEO of Waterless Co, Inc., says he is growing increasingly alarmed that the drought, which has impacted large areas of the United States for the past three years, is severely hurting ranchers and their herds.
 
“Worse, this does not seem to be getting much news coverage, but what is happening can impact us all,” he says.
 
According to Reichardt, the nation’s cattle herd is at its lowest level since 1952, and the herd shrank another 2 percent last year.
 
“The main reason ranchers are trimming their herds is dwindling supplies of water,” notes Reichardt. “They don’t have the water or the feed, which also requires water, to grow large herds.”
 
This is also impacting the cost of beef. As supplies dwindle and demand remains the same, prices go up. According to recent reports, the cost of beef escalated by 6 percent in 2012 and is expected to jump another 4 percent in 2013.
 
The drought is also resulting in smaller harvests of hay, grains, and other feedstock used to feed cattle during the winter months.

“Once again, this is impacting the size of U.S. herds and the cost of beef,” says Reichardt.

Regardless of how long the drought lasts or if it is the result of climate change, Reichardt believes there is a bigger issue “that we all must consider.”
 
“This situation is just another warning sign that we must all start using water more efficiently.* There is a lot of waste when it comes to water and we simply have to put a stop to it.”