The drought in Baker County has worsened after a brief respite in April, with nearly 77% of the county now in severe drought. Rancher Mike Widman calls it the worst he's ever seen.
- May had only 0.14 inches of rain, the second-driest on record. - June has seen just 0.10 inches through June 15, with no rain forecast through June 22.
- Widman has moved cattle to higher elevations 45-60 days early due to lack of forage. - The winter snowpack was the skimpiest in places in half a century, prompting a drought disaster declaration in March.
The situation is dire for ranchers, who face early hay feeding and rising costs due to limited irrigation water.