Family Farms in Crisis | Roanoke News

Family farms in Botetourt County are on the brink, crushed by drought, soaring costs, and encroaching urban sprawl. Young farmer Courtney Henderson faces an 80% drop in hay yields, forcing her to sell off her herd early — a heartbreaking loss of legacy and livelihood. Creeks run dry, land erodes, and generational farms battle rising prices as corporate buyers snap up prime acreage. With just one stoplight once marking the town’s edge, the rural fabric is unraveling. The USDA has declared every Virginia county a disaster area, offering emergency loans — but farmers must act fast. If this trend continues, the soul of small-scale farming may vanish forever. 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/774a8cb6da4b7c18