Drought Crisis Hits Virginia Farms | Richmond News

Central Virginia’s third month of extreme drought is turning farmers’ livelihoods into a crisis—high temps are evaporating rain, forcing ranchers to buy pricey hay instead of growing it. One Louisa County farmer reports a 25% hay crop loss, pushing others to sell cattle and halt expansion. Demand for hay is so fierce that desperate buyers are calling non-producers. An extension agent with 20+ years in Nelson County calls it the driest she’s ever seen. Water restrictions loom, threatening irrigated crops and risking small farms’ survival. With no clear end in sight, the agricultural community is scrambling to build resilience for what’s coming next. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fd13647be6a696cc