CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, MO (KFVS) -
The continuing drought situation is depleting many local wells, leaving some homeowners and farmers high and dry.
It is big business these days for well digging companies.
"It's probably increased 100 percent," said Mike Callaway-C & S Well Service.
The drought is keeping the Daisy, Missouri company busy.
"Probably getting 15-20 calls a day," said Callaway.
A state program to help drought stricken farmers has the phones ringing even more. The plan announced last month covers 90% of the costs for farmers to drill or deepen wells.
"Everything's burned up," said Billy Watson. "The pastures are all gone, neighbors lost their crops...been terrible."
Billy Watson of rural Jackson stands to benefit from the program. He is running out of water.
"I built that pond when I first moved here 45 years ago," said Watson.
All that is left of it right now is a few inches of mud and moss.
"Never has gone dry before," said Watson.
He started out the summer with several horses and cattle.
"We've had to get rid of some because it's hard to haul water and there's no water for them," said Watson.
He is down to just a couple of horses now, and hopes to add more to his ranch as soon as he knows that water is no longer a concern.
As for the emergency relief program, according to the Governor's office the state approved approximately 6,000 applications, at a cost of about $29 million.
Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.
It is big business these days for well digging companies.
Billy Jackson says he's running out of water.
All content ©Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and KFVS, a Raycom Media Station. 
