ATLANTA, GA — A worsening drought across Georgia is putting intense pressure on the state’s farmers, and experts warn the ripple effects will soon be felt at grocery store checkout lines. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has officially designated 146 counties as natural disaster areas, adding 20 new counties to the list this week alone. The designation highlights the catastrophic impact of the prolonged dry conditions on the state’s primary industry.In Cherokee County, one of the most recently affected regions, the situation is visible in the soil. Farmers report that pastures are struggling to recover even after scattered rainfall. Grass that typically stands waist-high by this time of year is currently struggling to reach shin-height, leaving livestock with little to graze on.The Burden on Feed and SeedThe lack of natural grazing is forcing livestock owners to rely heavily on supplemental hay. However, with the drought affecting hay production itself, the supply is dwindling as prices climb. At Cherokee Feed & Seed in Ball Ground, a major regional supplier, the outlook is grim. “It could get real ugly,” said Alan Jessie of J&J Hay Farms. “It’s not just the hay for horses or for cattle… you’re talking…..