2020 has thrown another curve ball at the region’s livestock producers. As if the global pandemic and its repercussions weren’t enough.

Direct sales and a huge demand for local produce allowed cattlemen to foul off a couple of pitches – including the temporary closure of the country’s largest processing plants.

But relentless heat, humidity, and the lack of rain have reduced the hay and forage harvest, dried up farm ponds, and turned community pastures into dust.

The severe drought has left a number of producers without enough feed to maintain their herds through the winter. Maritime farmers believe that many will cull heavily, and beef prices could drop significantly.

This issue of Atlantic Beef & Sheep looks at strategies the industries can employ to meet the challenges hurled at them. Here’s some of what you’ll find:

The New Brunswick Cattle Producers has established a database of farmers who have hay or silage to offer for sale (page 22).

John Duynisveld addresses the importance of soil carbon to beef and sheep producers and how management practices can increase soil’s water holding capacity (page 36).

Duncan Fraser provides advice on what to look for when buying bales of hay, supplementing rations with grain, and frost seeding pastures (page 34).

Les Halliday looks at water quality, what diseases are prevalent during a drought, and the weeds that can cause digestive and metabolic issues (page 44).

The Maritime Beef Council has discussed creating production clubs and online auctions with N.B. farmers (Ribs, page 9).

The Canadian Beef Research Council conveys four key principles to help maintain forage productivity, ensure stand longevity, sustain a healthy plant community, conserve water, and protect soils (page 48).

The ABS lineup also includes Emily Leeson’s look at how Nelson Fagan is helping to boost Newfoundland beef potential (page 38), and Nicole Kitchener’s tale about the sheep, hay, and sheepskins on the Matheson’s P.E.I. farm (page 28).

But keep your eye on the pitcher. The 2020 roster has the U.S. election, a potential second wave of COVID-19, and international trade tensions and disputes, all due up to bat in the next inning. It also has an impressive slate of designated hitters – hurricanes and tropical storms – ready to swing for the fences and unharvested crops. 2020’s potential relievers are warming up in the bullpen, while its manager paces in the dugout, just itching to kick dirt at the umpire.

As always, ABS will be in the press box, scorecard in hand, bringing you all the play-by-play, interviews, and commentary.