Ranchers worry because of dry weather

Alberta ranchers are holding out hope for heavy rains in the spring after one of the driest winters on record.

Cattle producers are also hoping governments will offer a disaster assistance program to help with soaring feed costs.

Ranchers have been scrambling for feed this winter because last summer's drought wiped out crops and crippled pasture land.

With growing prospects of another dry spring, the feed crunch will likely continue.

Decent April precipitation would help with that but ranchers may still have an extra month of high feed costs, which according to reports have nearly doubled over the past few months.