Surplus hay grown on Morgan County farms last spring, summer and fall is helping Texas cattlemen survive a severe drought.

George Lawton of Neel said he has been shipping rolls of hay by truck to several locations in Texas since last late fall.

“I put a notice of hay for sale on the Internet and calls started coming in from all over that part of the country,” Lawton said. “I’ve shipped 10 trailer loads so far and I’m boarding 87 head of Angus to help a Texas cattleman get his herd through the winter.”

“Conditions are tough out there even though they’re getting rain now,” he added. “”I had a farmer tell me he took a load of cattle to an auction and had to return home with them because there were so many other cattlemen waiting in line. The drought was no bad many farmers fear they’ll have to re-seed their pastures because the grass is gone”

“Fortunately, North Alabama had an excess of rainfall during the 2011 growing season and hay crops were good. “We’re glad to be in a position to pay back for the hay we had shipped in from out west a few years ago.”