TROUTVILLE, Va. (WDBJ) – Local family farms in Botetourt County are facing a critical turning point as a combination of historic drought, high operating costs, and rapid urban development threaten their multi-generational operations.
For 30-year-old Courtney Henderson, a young farmer at Cave Hill Dairy Farm in Troutville, staying afloat has become a daily battle.
“If I can’t find a way to make up for the loss this year, in the next two to five years, I’m going to have to sell,” Henderson said. “There’s no other way around it.”
A ‘Perfect Storm’ of Challenges
Cave Hill Dairy Farm is dealing with an 80% reduction in hay yields due to the lack of precipitation. The shortage has forced Henderson to start feeding her herd their winter supply of feed months ahead of schedule, leading to agonizing financial and emotional decisions…