RICHMOND, VA (Rocktown Now) — Governor Abigail Spanberger today declared a State of Emergency to support Virginia farmers and producers in response to the statewide hay shortage caused by ongoing drought conditions.

Governor Spanberger’s Executive Order 21 allows hay to be transported quickly and efficiently to farms across the Commonwealth by granting over-width exemption waivers to carriers transporting essential agricultural supplies of hay in any part of Virginia — accelerating feed delivery to farms and livestock producers.

These waivers will reportedly help make sure farms can maintain operations and protect livestock health as persistent drought conditions have caused a statewide hay shortfall of 500,000 tons — or approximately 1 billion pounds. The declaration also provides access to emergency funding, activates price gouging protections, and authorizes additional measures if necessary.

“The drought has placed real pressure on livestock producers across Virginia,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “Today, I am declaring a State of Emergency to make sure we can address the significant hay shortage facing the Commonwealth and keep farmers on solid footing heading into the winter. This waiver will help us move critical hay resources more quickly so farms can prepare for the months ahead, feed livestock, and sustain their operations.”

Governor Spanberger continued, “While we have seen improvement in drought conditions in some areas of the Commonwealth in recent weeks, the impacts of this prolonged dry period are still being felt by producers across Virginia. My Administration will continue working with farmers, agricultural partners, and local communities to make sure they have the resources they need to weather these conditions and protect our agricultural economy.”

Persistent drought conditions have caused a 35 percent loss in hay yields statewide, with yield losses in some cases reaching 70 percent, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Additionally, from the beginning of the grazing season through June 2026, farmers had to prematurely feed hay for at least 30 of those 90 days due to poor pasture conditions and inadequate forage resulting from drought.

According to the Spanberger administration, many local farms are in need of assistance to ensure adequate hay supplies going into winter to ensure livestock health. Supplemental deliveries of hay must be moved into affected areas in preparation for the winter-feeding season to prevent further losses. While this temporary emergency allowance will allow for over-width loads, gross and axle weight limits remain in effect.

The Executive Order becomes effective on September 16, 2026, and remains in force for 45 days unless amended or rescinded. The over-width waiver will go into effect on October 1, 2026, and will remain in force for 30 days. The 15-day period between the start of the Executive Order and the beginning of the over-width waiver will allow farmers time to source hay and transportation in order to maximize their use of the state-issued emergency waiver, which federal regulations limit to 30 days.

For updates on hay resources and waiver-related information, visit the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services webpage for Disaster Recovery Resources for Virginia Farmers.

For updates on drought conditions and voluntary water conservation guidance, visit the Department of Environmental Quality’s Drought Monitoring webpage.