Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger declared a state of emergency on 16 September to help the state's farmers cope with a hay shortage caused by prolonged drought. Executive Order 21 grants over-width exemption waivers to carriers hauling hay anywhere in the Commonwealth, opens emergency funding, activates price-gouging protections and authorises further measures if needed.

Persistent dry weather has cut hay yields 35 percent statewide, and as much as 70 percent in some places, according to Virginia Cooperative Extension. The shortfall is put at about 500,000 tons, roughly one billion pounds. Pasture was so poor that between the start of the grazing season and June, farmers had to feed hay on at least 30 of 90 days.

"The drought has placed real pressure on livestock producers across Virginia," Spanberger said. The waiver, she said, would move hay faster so farms can feed livestock and prepare for winter. Conditions have improved in parts of the state in recent weeks, but the effects of the long dry spell are still being felt.

The order took effect on 16 September and runs for 45 days; the over-width waiver itself starts on 1 October and lasts 30 days, the maximum federal rules allow, giving farmers a fortnight to line up hay and trucks first. Gross and axle weight limits remain in force.

Farm groups welcomed the move. Virginia Cattlemen's Association executive director Brandon Reeves said extreme drought had left cattle producers without the forage stocks to carry many herds through winter. Virginia Farm Bureau president Scott Sink said the waiver would help producers move as much hay as possible in time.

Extension officials Dan Goerlich and Stephanie Cornnell said the waiver would shorten delivery times and save significant trucking costs for farmers buying supplemental hay, while noting that drought is compounding sustained high input costs and market pressures on Virginia agriculture. The state's drought monitoring task force continues to track conditions.

Source: Morning Ag Clips