Conway, Ark. (KTHV)-- While, every sector of agriculture is feeling the drought dairy farmers may be suffering the most.
For Mike Simon and his sons, the lack of rainfall has been hard on their Dairy business in Conway.
Wednesday, Congressman Tim Griffin toured Simon Brothers Dairy as he visited with several farmers across Faulkner and Conway Counties.
Fredrick Simon says this year's weather has been devastating.
"It dried up in early April and we've only had 4 inches of rain to speak of since then."
Matt Simon says triple digit days have taken their toll livestock.
"They can handle the mid 90s which Arkansas typically sees on an average year, but the number of 100 degree days just shuts their production down to a crawl compared to what they should have."
Simon Brother's use a free stall barn to house their milking cows. Equipped with fans and good shade--the livestock are kept comfortable, but Matt Simon says little precipitation equals less feed.
"The last rainfall we got that did us some good was back in April. Since then it's just been bits and pieces."
Brother Fredrick Simon says they saw less than 2 inches of rainfall on their feed crop.
"Our entire corn crop didn't get but one point nine inches of rain on it from the day we planted it to the day we harvested.
Matt Simon says that is way below average.
"It needs typically 22 to 23 inches of rain is considered being the optimum range."
Dairy farmers say other factors are also sucking them dry.
"Arkansas has gone through a 5 year period of suppressed milk prices and the drought is going to drive home the hurting effect of it which I'm afraid could drive out up to 50 percent of our producers would not be unlikely to see by this time next year."