UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI RESEARCHERS SAY THE STATE WOULD NEED 13 FEET OF SNOW THIS WINTER TO COMPENSATE FOR THE SCORCHING HEAT AND LACK OF RAIN LAST SUMMER.
THE STATE'S DAIRY AND CATTLE INDUSTRIES ARE SCRAMBLING TO COPE WITH THE PARCHED SUMMER'S IMPACT AS THEY GET READY FOR WINTER.
THE SAINT LOUIS POST-DISPATCH REPORTS MISSOURI CORN FARMERS LOST ABOUT 24 MILLION BUSHELS OF YIELD LAST SUMMER, AND SOYBEAN PRODUCERS LOST ABOUT 20 MILLION BUSHELS.
HAY SUPPLIES ALSO ARE DANGEROUSLY LOW IN THE COUNTRY'S THIRD-LARGEST PRODUCER OF THAT NOW-PRECIOUS COMMODITY.
THE U-S-D-A HAS DESIGNATED 101 MISSOURI COUNTIES NATURAL DISASTER AREAS BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT.
ONE ESTIMATE PUTS THE LOSS TO THE STATE'S GRAIN FARMERS AT NEARLY 350 MILLION DOLLARS.