Ranching and farming is more of a way of life than a job. "Sure
a lot easier when it rains," said Rancher Chris Grubl. The Grubl
family has farmed and ranched their land east of Sturgis since
it was homesteaded in 1892, and Chris Grubl has seen his share
of droughts, but this year was different. "It seemed like it was
a lot hotter through most of the summer and anytime that happens
it takes away from your water supply," said Grubl. No water
means less hay. "We put up about 10% of the hay we did in 2011,"
said Grubl. His son Lucas says the summer was pretty depressing.
"You know you sit out in a field and you know last year you
wrote down in the book when you were bailing that you got 250
bales in this field and then you get 25 the next year," said
Lucas. Less hay means less feed for cattle. "Feed availability
has been a challenge," said SDSU Extension Cow Calf Field
Specialist Adele Harty. She says because of the drought, a lot
of ranchers have culled some of their cattle. "They had to go in
and determine tho