Grayson County rancher dealing with heat, drought

The heat and drought are taking a toll on Ben Wible's crops. (KTEN)

GRAYSON COUNTY, Texas -- If you've been outside this week, you know how it feels when temperatures soar above 100 degrees.

But for Texomans like Ben Wible, this heat wave is having an impact on his livelihood.

Wible is a farmer and rancher in western Grayson County. He's been making adjustments to get through the summer season.

While he has several crops on his farm, he relies on his hay the most. Wible is worried that he won't have enough hay to make it through the season.

"We've got one-third of a normal cutting, and it does not look like there will be a second cutting unless it just rains a considerable amount very soon," he said.

After a wheat harvest, Wible said he typically goes back to the field and plants another crop.

"But the soil is so dry deep down, you could put the seed there but no seed will sprout right now if you put it in the ground," he said. "The soil is so dry that it crumbles in my hand."

And because of the absence of moisture, Wible said he's had to think differently about feeding his livestock.

"Normally I don't bale my cornstalks," he said. "But this year, I think all of my cornstalks will be baled."

Wible says although cornstalks aren't a very good food source for his cattle, it will work until he's able to grow some more wheat.

"If I can get that done with some rain, I will use that to carry my cattle through the winter and just have them graze wheat and make my hay go as far as I can," he said, adding that he also plans to use leftover corn from this season to add to his alfalfa hay to feed cattle until the wheat crop comes in.

Wible said although he loves his cattle, he's already had to sell some.