VIRGILINA—After recent rainfall brought some relief to Virginia’s parched farmland, agricultural producers are cautiously hopeful that this growing season might still be rescued, while state farming officials urge those hit by harsh spring weather conditions to explore federal disaster relief programs.
Farmers across numerous Virginia counties have been granted drought disaster designations through U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and the Farm Service Agency, as the entire state remains under severe-to-extreme drought conditions. Multiple disaster relief programs are now accessible to qualifying producers, featuring emergency lending and additional recovery assistance.
Carl Daniel, Halifax County Farm Bureau president who cultivates corn, soybean and tobacco while also raising beef cattle, described the recent precipitation as “a blessing.”
Although many farmers in Southside Virginia are delaying crop planting beyond typical schedules, “we think there is still hope,” Daniel explained. “The rain has been sporadic. Some areas only got an inch-and-a-half while others up to 5 inches. But any rain is good in a drought situation!”
Nevertheless, grasslands and grazing areas are “taking a beating,” according to Virginia Farm Bureau Federation state board member Bruce Slagle, who serves farmers throughout the region.
“Some farmers are still feeding their hay supplies from last fall, while not making more,” Slagle noted. “Normally, you’re rolling hay now for next winter. What little hay is out there—they might be feeding it already. But I think the rain is going to help them out a lot.”
VFBF Vice President Robert J. Mills Jr. has managed to cut some hay this season at Briar View Farms in Pittsylvania County.
“But our first cutting is less than 30% of our usual yield,” Mills reported. “The rest dried up.”
Dry pasture conditions have forced others into difficult financial decisions.
“We have cattle farmers in Halifax selling young calves, so there’s enough pasture for the others to have,” Daniel noted. “And people are already looking for hay to feed.”
However, farmers adapt when weather conditions turn unfavorable. Mills explained that tobacco planting schedules can be adjusted based on the variety selected.
“This is the first time in our career that we’ve ever planted tobacco in June,” Mills said. “If we have more rain and crop progresses throughout the season, we’ll be OK. But if we have another drought mid-season, it’s going to stall the crop. Delayed maturity puts it in the frost window.”
Mills reported that only approximately 25% of corn has been planted countywide due to drought conditions, including merely 12 acres of their 200-acre cornfield, while late frost forced some producers to completely replant their corn and soybean crops.
Producers affected by the late April freeze may qualify for FSA physical loss loans designed to help repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property. The farmers.gov Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Loan Assistance Tool can help determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center or call Virginia FSA at 804-287-1500.
