Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger declared a state of emergency on 17 September over severe and persistent drought that has left cattle farmers critically short of hay and pasture, a day after the US Department of Agriculture fast-tracked disaster designations for four drought-hit Florida counties.

Drought has persisted in Virginia since last winter, with southern areas along the North Carolina border in extreme drought and some reporting hay yield losses of up to 70 per cent. State officials estimate a statewide hay shortfall of roughly 500,000 tons. Executive Order 21 exempts oversized hay loads from width restrictions for 30 days from 1 October, keeping weight limits, and authorises state agencies to coordinate emergency support for 45 days. "This waiver will help us move critical hay resources more quickly," Spanberger said.

Brandon Reeves, executive director of the Virginia Cattlemen's Association, said producers have been left without the forage stocks they need for winter, forcing many to draw down reserves and buy hay earlier than usual.

On 16 September USDA's Farm Service Agency designated Escambia, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas under its fast-track process for counties meeting US Drought Monitor thresholds. Farmers there, in eight contiguous Florida counties and two adjoining Alabama counties can apply until 26 April 2027 for FSA emergency loans for equipment, livestock replacement, reorganisation or refinancing.

The declarations point to drought building across the Southeast this season, even as USDA's 11 September crop report trimmed the national corn yield estimate to 178.5 bushels an acre, down 2.2 bushels from August. Livestock producers dependent on pasture and hay are often the first hit and the last to recover.

Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Source: Global Agriculture