Cattle culling in U.S. Mid-West.

“Cattlemen are selling animals they can’t graze or afford to buy feed for… The number of cattle in the U.S. has been dropping for years.  The Agriculture Department says the nation’s cattle inventory is the smallest since the agency began a July count in 1973” (Associated Press, July 24, 2012).

Drought is covering 97% of the high plains and 86% of the entire Midwest in the U.S. “Conditions in the Midwest, which produces roughly three-quarters of the corn and soybean crops in the world’s largest producer and exporter, worsened despite the first measurable rainfall in a month in some areas” (Reuters, July 26, 2012).  “Surging animal feed prices [mainly corn]—the biggest input costs for livestock producers—also led some farmers to cull their herds in the main cattle producing region of the Plains” (ibid.).  

Thousands of years ago, God warned of the sobering consequences of rejecting Him and His commandments.  “I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze.  And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce…” (Leviticus 26:19-20). “Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field…” (Hosea 4:3).  God wants to bless those He created in His image, but disobedience forces Him to remove His blessings and protection (verses 1-7).  

God does control the weather and yearns for His people to return to Him so that He can once again bless them with “rain in due season” (Leviticus 26:1-4, KJV).  For more information on extreme weather conditions, review our insightful booklet, Who Controls the Weather?