OMAHA, Neb. – It’s hard to tell what frustrates Todd Eggerling more – the weather or Congress.

Searing temperatures and drought scorched Eggerling’s land in southeast Nebraska, leaving little grass to feed his 100 cattle. Then Congress left for a five-week break without agreeing on aid to help ranchers through one of the worst droughts in the U.S.’s history.

That means it will be September before Eggerling and other ranchers can hope for disaster aid legislation that includes cash to buy feed until they would normally send their cattle to feedlots or slaughter in the fall or winter. For some, it’s already too late. Out of grass and cash, they’ve sold their animals.