Virginia's Governor Abigail Spanberger declared a state of emergency on 16 September to get hay to livestock farms across the commonwealth after persistent drought left a statewide shortfall of about 500,000 tons, roughly a billion pounds. Executive Order 21 grants over-width exemption waivers to carriers hauling hay anywhere in Virginia, opens access to emergency funding, activates price-gouging protections and authorises further measures if needed.

"The drought has placed real pressure on livestock producers across Virginia," Spanberger said. "While we have seen improvement in drought conditions in some areas of the commonwealth in recent weeks, the impacts of this prolonged dry period are still being felt by producers across Virginia." Virginia Farm Bureau president Scott Sink said the waiver "will be instrumental in helping producers transport as much hay as possible in a timely manner".

Dry weather has strained pastures, cut forage yields and forced some farmers to start feeding winter hay months early. Virginia Cooperative Extension estimated in September that statewide hay yields were down 35 percent, with losses of up to 70 percent in places; by early summer some farmers had already fed hay on at least 30 of the first 90 days of the grazing season because pasture growth had stalled.

Augusta County sheep farmer Morgan Slaven put the season in numbers: a first cutting of 305 round bales in 2024, 155 in 2025, and just 31 this July. "There are a few variables this year, like more sheep and about 10 fewer acres in hay production – mostly because it wasn't worth the cost to run equipment over it," she said. "But to have a crop be only 10% of what it was two years ago is scary."

The executive order runs for 45 days unless amended or rescinded. The over-width waiver takes effect on 1 October for 30 days, the maximum federal rules allow, and the 15-day gap is meant to give farmers time to line up hay and transport so they can use the window fully; gross and axle weight limits remain in force. The Virginia Emergency Support Team and Drought Monitoring Task Force, which includes the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, continues to monitor conditions. The report is a Virginia Farm Bureau release.

Photo: Virginia State Parks staff / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Source: Morning Ag Clips