If you had asked me back in January how I expected our spring to play out, being several months into extreme drought with no end in sight was not on my radar. Unfortunately, the current drought is now a hot topic of conversation everywhere I go—whether I’m speaking with homeowners, farmers, livestock producers, or others in the community.
As of April 16th, Lincoln County is officially classified as D3 or Extreme Drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor. D3 conditions mean that crops are failing, our soil is cracking, we’ve lost significant portions of grazing and hay, our rivers, livestock ponds, and wells are dry, trees begin to drop leaves, and there is increased risk of wildfire. To put it in context, 69.12% of the entire state is classified in this D3-D4 level of drought. This is one of the most widespread and severe droughts we’ve had in the last 80 years.
For producers, this paints a grim picture. Soil moisture is as low as I’ve ever seen it, making field work difficult. Planting and germination are next to impossible in dryland (non-irrigated) conditions. Ryegrass forages never fully took off this spring, and warm-season grasses are struggling due to lack of moisture. With pastures not growing, many producers are already feeding hay. At the same time, hay fields are also impacted by dry condition, and I’m expect reduced hay yield and quality this summer, likely leading to higher prices and potential shortages this fall and winter.
Fire potential is high, with dozens of wildfires reported around us in the last week or two. Between April 15 and 22, Georgia Forestry Commission reported 99 wildfires burning over 22,000 acres – many of which were in Clinch and Brantley Counties. A smaller wildfire burned 60 acres in McCormick the week of April 18th.
What about the rain in the forecast? I know several folks have been excited to see some clouds predicted for next weekend. Unfortunately, the total rainfall for our area is expected to be less than 2 inches. This sounds like a lot, but after long dry periods, soil becomes somewhat hydrophobic (water repellent), causing initial rainfall to run off or barely infiltrate the top inches of soil. Then, we’re likely to be back in hot, sunny weather, which increases evaporation of that water. Most importantly, 2” of rainfall will not replenish our low groundwater levels. Drought doesn’t happen overnight, so recovery doesn’t either. To really improve our circumstance, we need consistent, steady rainfall for several weeks to months.
During this time, it’s important to conserve water wherever possible. You may want to prioritize irrigation for high-value plants and newly established landscapes. Avoid unnecessary tillage or soil disturbance to help conserve soil moisture. If you have livestock, begin developing a plan for purchasing and stockpiling forage resources for next winter. Lastly, please use caution with any activities or equipment that could potentially spark fires.
If you have questions about how to manage water resources, landscapes, or production agriculture in drought conditions, please reach out to us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233. Please pray for rain!
