August 29, 2007
By JEFF LENNOX
6 News Reporter
KNOX COUNTY (WATE) -- Due to the continuing drought, cattle farmers are having trouble getting enough water for their herds to drink.
Life on the Dewayne Cole's farm isn't a very plentiful one these days.
"It's rough. Our pond is dry. Our creeks are dry. We've been hauling water in since March." Cole says. "As hot as it's been, above the 90's, they drink a lot of water when it's really hot, about 150 gallons a day."
To keep his thirsty cows and one horse well hydrated, Dewayne uses a 300 gallon tank to haul water every other day.
But the difficult task is taking its toll. "Tuesday night, it took me a good hour just to get a 300 gallon tank full and a lot of it was mud," Cole says.
Hauling water from other sources is the best option right now for some farmers. But with no end in sight to the drought, Dewayne Cole has gone one step further. "I had to sell some cows, so I wouldn't have to haul so much."
His herd of cattle was recently reduced from 14 cows to six. It wasn't an easy decision to make, but it's one that more farmers are turning to, in light of the drought.
"I mean, if you want to farm, there is a lot of sacrifice with it," Cole says.
Meanwhile, farmers do have the option to buy water from at least one utility company. The Hallsdale-Powell Utility District is offering to sell water to farmers who need it. The utility is selling water for $5.00 for every 1,000 gallons.
Farmers need their own means of transporting the water, which some say poses a problem.
Dewayne Cole's herd of cattle was recently reduced from 14 cows to six.
There hasn't been any water in this creek bed where Cole's cattle used to water since April.
