Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508210101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Short
``I believe this is the worst spell we've had in a long time,'' said Moyer C. Mason, who raises beef cattle in Orange County. ``It seems like the longest-lasting spell we've had in a long time.''
Cows are parched and sluggish, another farmer said.
``Just like a person does when it's hot, all the cows want to do is sit in the shade and drink water,'' said Madison County dairy farmer David Jones. ``They're not eating like they should.''
Often, when Jones gets up at 3:30 a.m. to milk his cows, it has been at least 75 degrees with ``humidity you could cut with a knife,'' he said.
To provide a measure of bovine comfort at his farm, Jones is running sprinklers and fans around the clock. He is serving his animals more nutrient-packed food because they are eating less.
Milk production has probably dropped 20 percent to 30 percent because of the weather, Jones said.
``If we don't get some rain pretty soon, fall grazing won't be good,'' Mason said. ``It's been three weeks since we've had any rain at all.''
Mason's cattle are lounging in the shade and aren't grazing like they should, so they are not fattening.
``I don't think the calves have grown a whole lot in the last month,'' Mason said. ``It's been a hard time for them.''
No significant rain is in the forecast, and high temperatures near 90 are expected early this week.
``Relief will come,'' Jones said, ``but it sure has been a trying summer.''
by CNB