ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Drought conditions are impacting both crop and livestock farmers in Virginia and surrounding states.
Forty-nine percent of Virginia is in the Severe Drought category, according to government data. Another 40% is listed under Moderate Drought.
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Johnny and Melody Divers own Chapel Creek Farms in Bedford County. Johnny says the drought slows growth. The Divers keep enough pastures to rotate their cattle through the dry spell, but they still have to watch out for overgrazing.
“Overgrazing pastures not only destroys the grass, it destroys the soil because it lets the sun bake the soil more once we start getting heat,” said Johnny.
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Melody says it would take months of drought-like conditions before their customers notice an impact…