The latest Drought Monitor shows a slight increase in the area covered by extreme drought in Georgia as well as the development of moderate drought in central Georgia just south of Macon.  In other areas of the Southeast, dry conditions remained constant or decreased slightly.  Near normal rainfall coupled with above-normal temperatures this week mean that drought conditions are likely to remain stable for the next week, although some expansion in southeast Georgia is possible.

As a result of the drought, many corn fields have lost yield to the point that they are being harvested for sileage or baleage. Calves were being weaned early to reduce the stress on the cows.  Some farmers were also putting out supplemental hay as pastures dried up.  Dryland crops are suffering and irrigated crops are taking as much water as they can to prevent yield loss.

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