DADADEL
Saturday morning started like any other for Springfield farmer Jared Blackwelder and his wife, Misty, as they fed their dairy cows. Later that day, loud crashes from a thunderstorm briefly caught their attention but didn’t raise concern. However, when Jared went to gather the herd for evening milking, he stumbled upon a devastating sight—32 dairy cows lying lifeless in a tragic pile on the pasture mulch.
Stan Coday, president of the Wright County Missouri Farm Bureau, explained to CBS News that while lightning strikes affecting cattle are not uncommon, this incident stood out because of the sheer number of lives lost. A local veterinarian confirmed that lightning was the cause, speculating that the cows huddled together under the trees during the storm for shelter, unwittingly placing themselves in harm’s way.
“You’re at the mercy of mother nature,” Coday remarked, noting he had lost a cow to lightning several years ago.
For Blackwelder, the loss is deeply personal. “It’s not like they are pets. But the ones I’m milking, I’ve raised every one of them,” he shared with the Springfield News-Leader. Dairy farming creates a unique bond as farmers interact with the animals daily, making such a loss emotionally devastating.
Beyond the emotional toll, the financial impact is staggering. Blackwelder estimated the value of his certified organic cows at $2,000 to $2,500 each, totaling nearly $60,000. Although he has insurance, he remains uncertain whether it will cover this catastrophic loss.
Many farmers, including Blackwelder, face the harsh reality that insurance often doesn’t cover such losses. “Most producers don’t carry insurance,” Coday explained. Losing livestock is a crushing blow for farmers who rely on these animals for their livelihood.
Additionally, local neighbors questioned whether the meat from the cows could be salvaged, but Coday clarified that it was not an option. “Those animals are damaged and had been there for hours when discovered. They wouldn’t have been fit for human consumption,” he stated.
The tragedy also underscores the challenges of farming in Missouri, where milder weather means most farmers don’t have dedicated barns to shelter their cattle.
