# 94% in drought, 76% of pastures poor: a record-warm August to October leaves America's Mid-South hauling water to cattle — Inside Desk

> Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi recorded their warmest August to October periods on record, with 94% of the region in moderate to exceptional drought. The USDA rates 76% of pastures in poor to very poor condition, and ranchers are feeding hay daily and hauling water.

- Date: 2026-11-13 · published 2026-11-13T21:15:57.698Z
- Category: weather · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/98516-94-in-drought-76-of-pastures-poor-a-record-warm-august-to-october-leaves
- Commodities: [Alfalfa Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/ALFALFA.md), [Grass Hay](https://feedsoft.ai/c/GRASSHAY.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Poor pasture and drought push ranchers to buy hay and supplemental feed earlier and in larger volumes, which supports hay and feed prices in the region. Herd stress may also prompt early cattle sales, adding supply pressure on cattle prices.

## Read by commodity

- ALFALFA: bullish ▲
- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- GRASSHAY: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FCATTLE | 2021-05-19 | [Reviewing Feed Costs, Drought, and Feedlot Inventory \| Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10275-reviewing-feed-costs-drought-and-feedlot-inventory-ohio-beef-cattle-letter.md) | -0.4% | +14.9% |
| FCATTLE | 2017-08-10 | [How will summer drought and this fall’s corn crop affect feeder cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/events/69610-how-will-summer-drought-and-this-fall-s-corn-crop-affect-feeder-cattle.md) | +0.5% | +2.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2018-06-07 | [Drought has changed the cattle price outlook - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64642-drought-has-changed-the-cattle-price-outlook-brownfield-ag-news.md) | -0.7% | +4.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2019-06-02 | [Feed cost increases have feedyards paying attention to the weather market - RealAgriculture](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58669-feed-cost-increases-have-feedyards-paying-attention-to-the-weather-market.md) | +3.1% | +2.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2018-07-29 | [Beef Market Update: Quiet trade week as we get closer to the halfway point of summer - RealAgriculture](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64172-beef-market-update-quiet-trade-week-as-we-get-closer-to-the-halfway-point-of.md) | +0.4% | -2.0% |

## Sources

- benjaminkoch.info: https://benjaminkoch.info/insidedesk/2026/11/13/94-in-drought-76-of-pastures-poor-a-record-warm.html

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