Virginia State of Emergency impact on farms

[Steve in VA]

I see it reported a SoE has been declared here due to drought impact on hay production. Estimates of reduced production of 35% up to 70%. Neighbor just made second cut of fescue and the results are bleak. I was disappointed to have just missed last year's hay cut but now....

 

[Jim in NC]

Spring hay yields were 25 to 30% of normal. My fall hay so far is very similar. Not too far south and east farmers have good fall hay crops. I hope there is gonna be enough to get everyone through the winter. Also my cattle watering spring and creek is almost dried up. Many others nearby are the same. Well water is now the solution. Months of a D4 drought status have been painful.

 

[560Dennis]

If farming was easy ,nobody would do it.

 

[RedMVa]

I see it reported a SoE has been declared here due to drought impact on hay production. Estimates of reduced production of 35% up to 70%. Neighbor just made second cut of fescue and the results are bleak. I was disappointed to have just missed last year's hay cut but now....

Yeah you’re up the valley, up close to Winchester I haven’t seen a fall harvest this good in a long time. 1st cut was half of normal coming off last year’s drought, second is 1/3rd better than normal. I’ve been where you are and it sucks big time , last fall was bad here.

 

[paul]

Was just chatting with a neighbor here at the fast food place. We are in an island of adiqute rain this year, it was dry but we are often too wet. So it was perfect for our corn and beans here in southern Minnesota.

Even 30 miles away they have lighter souls and missed some rains, it is bad. All around for 100s of miles south west to north of me is cattle country and they are mostly way to dry, poor pastures and short on hay.

What helps I guess is we have less beef out there. Less mouths to feed. But they are really scrambling to get hay shipped in.

It might be an interesting winter season.

Paul

 

[John in MD]

First cutting was probably 30-40 percent of normal, second cutting is so poor even the thistle is stunted. I'm thinking it might be cheaper to buy hay than waste the time and fuel.

 

[Oakridgewelding]

I see it reported a SoE has been declared here due to drought impact on hay production. Estimates of reduced production of 35% up to 70%. Neighbor just made second cut of fescue and the results are bleak. I was disappointed to have just missed last year's hay cut but now....

I'm just half hour north of you in Dayton. Really good corn crop here. First cutting was bleak, second was good. We have been blessed with rains at just the right times. Feel bad we've had rain and others haven't.

 

[Jim in NC]

Looking at the new drought monitor map which expanded our D4 area. I see no other D4 area in the southeast.

 

[rrlund]

Here in Michigan it's feast or famine. No system rains, just scattered thunderstorms. Tuesday, I talked to a friend that I went to school with. He's about 10 miles north east of me as the crow flies. He's got all kinds of hay to sell, corn has two ears to the stalk, I'm ending one of the worst drought years I've had in a long time. Hay and pastures were poor, silage corn was below average. Ears are small on the grain corn. He said the Amish he sells hay to up to the north of him are as bad off as I am. One showed him the hay he has in the barn. Said that's usually what he has in early April and it's all he has now. It's gonna be tough to truck hay very far with fuel prices.