The flood waters in Vermont and New York have subsided and life is getting back to normal in most places after the ravages of Hurricane Irene. Roads are being rebuilt and the leaves are turning into a blaze of color.
Now it’s time to evaluate what the floods left behind, and horse owners are wondering what effect the flooding will have on their horses, even if they were nowhere near the flood zones.
Flooded clover in a Vermont field has lost all its color, photo by bgblogging.
Post-flood worries are not just the province of the Northeast. Many regions of the United States had unusual floods in 2011 and the effects might become most obvious next winter, when horse owners find out that getting a load of good hay could be a tall order. The floods will effect the feed for all livestock.
To understand Vermont, you should know that it is a place of hills and valleys. And hay is grown in the valleys, often alongside rivers and streams, because that is the flattest land to farm. Ironically, the river valleys were probably created by floods in the first place.
Corn is grown in the low valleys as well--corn that should have been chopped into silage for dairy cows was laid low by the waters. Tragically, the riverside fields are now covered with silt and rocks in places. This field was spared the flattening that occurred in most low fields but the damage is still done. Photo by Putneypics.
The story of the 14-inch brook trout found alive in a cornfield in Royalton, Vermont was amusing when first reported, but now the impact of the storm is starting to be realized. It’s just not over yet. We can only wonder what the impact will be on the price of organic milk, Vermont cheeses and that most coveted of all exports from the Green Mountain State, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
North Carolina fields submerged by Hurricane Irene. Photo courtesy of North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services of North Carolina
The UVM video has some great information for horse owners, no matter where in the USA you live. Even if you weren’t directly impacted by the floods this year, your supply of hay may be priced accordingly, or not be available in the quality you’d like.
Make like the squirrels. And don't think that you can head south with your horses to escape rising hay prices and short supplies: experts say this is a pretty much a nationwide problem. Emily Price photo.
Pay attention and make like the squirrels. Scurry around now and be safe and happy when winter comes!
Not only floods will affect the price, supply and quality of hay and grain this winter: who can forget the spring tornadoes? This was once a horse farm. Photo courtesy of North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
To learn more: Watch this video about the community’s response to helping the aptly-named Hurricane Flats Farm in South Royalton, Vermont.
Related posts:
Meet Barbaro's Little Brother- Vive la France! Welcome to the l'Arc Day French Horse Commercial Festival!
- Ride to the Rescue: Saving the Lives of Horses, and Horses Who Saved Lives
by Fran Jurga © The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com
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