# Lack of rain means higher feed prices for Valley ranchers

> Lack of rain and irrigation water in the Rio Grande Valley has left ranchers short of hay. Local reports say hay bales that cost about $50 a year ago now sell for around $100, and some ranchers are switching to grain and corn as feed.

- Date: 2026-11-12 · published 2026-11-12T21:08:47.388Z
- Category: weather · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/96487-lack-of-rain-means-higher-feed-prices-for-valley-ranchers
- Commodities: [Alfalfa Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/ALFALFA.md), [Grass Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/GRASSHAY.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Drought-driven hay shortages push ranchers toward grain and corn substitutes, supporting demand for those feeds and raising the cost of cattle production in the region.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: bullish ▲
- ALFALFA: bullish ▲
- GRASSHAY: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2021-10-18 | [Higher feed prices this winter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/44681-higher-feed-prices-this-winter.md) | +1.5% | +13.0% |
| CORN | 2020-08-26 | [Low rainfall in US Midwest drives corn prices higher](https://feedsoft.ai/events/51639-low-rainfall-in-us-midwest-drives-corn-prices-higher.md) | +1.5% | +7.0% |
| CORN | 2019-10-29 | [Falling Corn Surplus Could Mean Higher Food Prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56588-falling-corn-surplus-could-mean-higher-food-prices.md) | +2.7% | +1.1% |
| CORN | 2018-05-14 | [Higher feed grain prices pressure cattle feeder market - Canadian Cattlemen](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65129-higher-feed-grain-prices-pressure-cattle-feeder-market-canadian-cattlemen.md) | +1.7% | -1.8% |
| CORN | 2021-04-24 | [Grain prices pushed higher as weather worries grow - Farmers Weekly](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10294-grain-prices-pushed-higher-as-weather-worries-grow-farmers-weekly.md) | +13.6% | +6.9% |

## Sources

- krgv.com: https://www.krgv.com/videos/lack-of-rain-means-higher-feed-prices-for-valley-ranchers

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.