Putting Extra Meat on the Grill Helps Nebraska Farmers Recover

By: Stephanie Morrissey - Email

Updated: Tue 5:13 AM, Sep 04, 2012

Click HERE for more information!

Putting some extra meat on the grill does more than fill up your stomach. It's also helping support local farmers recovering from the drought.

With such a dry summer, Nebraska farming families are having trouble making ends meet.

"It has been very dry this summer and all parts of production have been affected. In the cow-calf area, grazing grass production is little to none. Hay production is very, very low," said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau President.

Even though not all Nebraskans are farmers, there are ways the state can work together.

"With it being Labor Day weekend and tailgating season, we are encouraging people to buy more beef, pork, poultry and dairy products. That will make things go better during this drought," Nelson said.

Grant Rafferty, a meat and seafood specialist at Hy-Vee, says the meat counter has been swamped. That's proof that lots of Nebraskans are still firing up their grills.

"This weekend was crazy busy. In fact, it was the busiest I've seen in the three years since I've been here," Rafferty said.

Rafferty says people should take advantage of grilling while they still can. To encourage consumers to buy and eat more meat, many stores take care of the preparation. All that's needed at home is a little heat.

"We want to keep things easy. In fact, the less hassle, the better we like it. We try to keep it as simple as possible because we know you're always doing other things.

Spending a little more on meet for yourself this fall means local farmers will have to spend a little less to feed their livestock.