We have been watching the weather reports all spring and summer hoping to see several days without rain in order to plan for cutting the hay. While we see a few rain free days as a plus here in the foothills of North Carolina and at the farm in Southwest Virginia, our farming neighbors to the south and east would love to see some rain.
A terrible drought is threatening the farmers, their crops, cattle and even the fish.
Flint River in Georgia actually stopped flowing for a time, causing the death of hundreds of fish.
Corn, cotton, and many other crops grown in the rim of southern states, face complete devastation.
Texas has been hit hard – first by the wildfires and now with the drought. Many cattle ranchers are selling off their cattle and moving the horses.
Even in North Carolina our eastern counties are suffering. Wilmington is reporting the second driest spring on record. Twenty-nine eastern NC counties are under a burn ban.
Ten counties in South Carolina are eligible for federal disaster aid.
Besides feeling compassion for the farmers and their animals, we can expect to see prices rise on many of the items we purchase. A drought affects everybody.
So, as I see rain showers on the forecast, I’ll be more appreciative instead of bemoaning the inability to make hay. At least we have it to cut.
Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Writingfeemail's Blog 
This has been a strange year for weather, but I feel the most sorry for farmers who must rely on the unpredictable patterns that dictate crop survival, not to mention rivers drying up and fish dying, wildfires, and now possibly rising prices, which will be another hardship on so many. There is a lot of pain and suffering on the planet right now. I only hope we can find some reprieve so that those who have been hit the hardest can rejuvenate and move forward.