West Salem, WI (WXOW)-- The US Drought Monitor now ranks this as the second worst drought since record keeping began in 1895.
That lack of rain, combined with a seemingly endless heatwave, is making it tough on crop farmers and dairy farmers.
Cole Hoyer is 18 and grew up on a dairy farm. He says between the heatwave and the drought, it's been a tough summer for the livestock.
"When they get too hot, they quit eating," Hoyer said. "Just to stay cool they drink more water and eat less feed, and the feed is what makes them produce."
His family has about 130 cows and noticed an almost 25 percent decrease in the amount of milk production during the worst of the heatwave.
"We're about 8000 lbs of milk a day and by the end of that 100 degree week, we were down to 6000, at our lowest," Hoyer said.
But it's not just the heat that's making it a tough season for dairy farmers. The drought is hurting crops which mean prices of feed is skyrocketing.
"We're worried about having enough feed to make it through the year," Hoyer said. "Milk prices weren't good the past few years so we don't have extra money to buy feed."
But for his family, this week's rain provided at least some relief.
"This rain we've had this week has really helped and it seems like we've been blessed with rainfall at the right time for our hay, so we're lucky in that way," Hoyer said.
Hoyer says while the drought will continue to pose problems, the somewhat cooler temperature help increase milk production.
