Drought in Baja California Sur Threatens Milk and Cheese Production

The ongoing drought in Baja California Sur has severely impacted various productive sectors, with the livestock industry being one of the hardest hit. The lack of rain during the 2024 cyclone season has driven up the cost of livestock feed and threatens the production of milk and cheese in the state.
Local cheese producer José Arturo Rochín Cota from Vista Hermosa ranch in San Antonio pointed out that forage costs have soared up to 300 pesos, complicating production activities. In some cases, production has halved, dropping from previous years' full capacity to currently hover between 60% and 70%, and sometimes as low as 50%.
José Alfredo Bermúdez Beltrán, Secretary of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Agricultural Development, warned that Baja California Sur, which produces around 35 million liters of milk annually, is at risk due to inadequate water and feed for livestock. The lack of vegetation cover significantly hampers the availability of sufficient animal feed.
The current situation has pressured producers to adopt sustainable strategies, including forage cultivation, to secure future production. The state's major dairy basins are located in Ciudad Constitución, Valle de Santo Domingo, Chametla, and El Centenario, covering 100% of local milk consumption, with some imports from the United States to meet additional demands.
Heriberto Rochín Araiza, President of the Livestock Union, noted the state's northern region has been particularly affected, experiencing almost two years without rain. This has resulted in a reduction of the cattle inventory by approximately 30 thousand heads out of a total of 288 thousand, directly affecting milk production.
The drought represents a significant challenge for local dairy farmers, pressing them to find solutions that maintain production and sustain the agricultural economy of Baja California Sur.