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Drought management

Governor Spanberger Declares State of Emergency to Support Virginia Farmers

Gov. Spanberger has issued Executive Order 21 to support livestock producers facing severe drought. Over-width transportation waivers for hay deliveries go into effect Oct. 1 to accelerate feed supply across the Commonwealth.

Read the full press release
VDACS Disaster Recovery & Emergency Relief
Access official state disaster assistance, transportation waiver details, and agricultural relief programs for Virginia producers affected by drought.
View VDACS Recovery Resources
Get Help Understanding Virginia's Drought Resources
For support navigating the process of importing hay or evaluating alternative herd management strategies, contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent.
Find your local office
Search our drought publications
Northampton Shellfish Mortality Response
Check local drought status

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Featured publications

  • Resource Item
    A person wearing a cap, white shirt, and jeans is crouching and holding a cup while a dog with a colorful bandana and pink vest drinks from it against a blue wall with yellow flower murals.
    Brief Outings, Temporary Fostering, and Weeklong Fostering: Matching Out-of-Shelter Programs to the Dogs in Your Care , resource

    This publication explains how animal shelters can use three out-of-shelter programs for dogs: brief outings lasting a few hours, temporary fostering for one or two nights, and weeklong fostering. Drawing on research conducted across multiple shelters, it compares the effects of each approach on dog welfare, stress, rest, adoption outcomes, and community engagement. The publication distinguishes between immediate welfare benefits and longer-term outcomes, helping shelter staff, volunteers, and foster coordinators match programs to individual dogs’ needs. It also discusses caregiver recruitment, safety considerations, co-housing with familiar dogs after foster stays, and practical strategies for building effective foster pathways that support both dogs and shelters.

  • Resource Item
    From the Ground Up: Extend Your Garden Season with Interplanting and Frost Protection
    From the Ground Up: Extend Your Garden Season with Interplanting and Frost Protection , resource

    Want to keep harvesting fresh vegetables longer into the fall? In this episode of From the Ground Up, Virginia Cooperative Extension's Meredith Keebler demonstrates how interplanting allows gardeners to establish cool-season crops while warm-season vegetables are still producing. Learn how to plant Chinese cabbage alongside peppers and prepare your garden for the changing seasons. The segment also explores simple and effective frost protection methods, from lightweight frost cloths to season-extending row covers and DIY options using common household materials. These techniques can help gardeners protect crops from early frosts and enjoy fresh produce well beyond the traditional growing season.

  • Resource Item
    Fall Webworm in Virginia
    Fall Webworm in Virginia , resource

    Native to North America, the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada. Its hosts include more than 100 species of deciduous forest, shade, and fruit trees, with preferences varying from region to region. Fall webworm has several generations each year, but the silk nests made in late summer are very visible and get most of the attention.

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