At the Abilene's farmers market, Co-Owner of Chrane Ranch Beef, Daphna Chrane says she has never seen the pastures so dry and bare after this past drought. "We’re really hoping for a wet spring, but right now we do not have much grass for our cattle so the momma cows get fed hay.”
The drought impact and inflation have prompted Chrane Ranch to almost double what they charge for their products. Chrane also added that water prices have been skyrocketing.
Randy Billings from Abilene Pecan said that even though the cold has killed crops for many, it is also a blessing. "Perhaps this next year we'll have a better crop. Nature has a way of saying ‘OK guys, let's all take a break and take a deep breathe and we’ll get ready and do this all again in the spring,’ and that’s when cold comes in.”
Farmers say the cold can help kill bugs and other critters that threaten crops.