Kennebec Journal interviews Kersbergen about how drought is affecting hay crop
Richard Kersbergen, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension professor in Waldo County, was interviewed by the Kennebec Journal for an article about how farmers in central and southern Maine are taking steps to deal with drought conditions. Kersbergen, who specializes in sustainable dairy and forage systems, spoke about how the conditions are affecting the state’s hay crop. He said because of good weather, the first crop was great, but in parts of the state, subsequent hay crops have been substantially reduced or non-existent. “This is one of the drier years I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen estimates ranging from 25 to 75 percent less than previous years,” he said. Kersbergen added he has been encouraging farmers to take an inventory of how much feed, including hay, they have compared to the amount of livestock, with a goal of storing enough food for the winter, according to the article. One of the challenges farmers face, Kersbergen said, is that if they don’t have enough hay to feed their animals, they are forced to seek out-of-state options because farms around Maine are having the same problems. “But what if they go to New York or somewhere else in New England that is also experiencing similar conditions?” he said. “It’s an out-of-pocket expense, and you can’t guarantee the quality of the hay you’d be buying.”