Drought has sale barns hopping

The record heat and extended drought have made area sale barns a busy place. Local producers whose pastures have burned up in the drought are selling cattle to avoid having to buy feed for them. To meet the high demand for sales, Gainesville Livestock Auction will have a special weigh-cow and stock-cow sale at noon Friday, July 6. Co-owner Patty Donley said cows can be brought in on Thursday or Friday. For more information call 679-0030.

Ozark Regional Stock Yards in West Plains reported selling more than 2,750 head at its June 27 sale, up more than a thousand head over the previous week’s head count. The selling continued until 4:30 a.m. Thursday, a spokeswoman said.

The West Plains facility is planning a special sale of cows beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, July 9. Call 417-256-0222 for information.