Georgia Farmers Face Tough Choices as Drought Ravages Grasslands

Severe drought leaves pastures barren, forcing livestock farmers to buy expensive hay or sell their cattle

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Georgia's severe drought has left the state's 4 million acres of grasslands, which make up nearly half of all farmland and provide forage for 1 million cattle, in a dire situation. The lack of rainfall has caused the grasses to enter dormancy 1-2 months early, cutting harvests short and leaving farmers with limited options - either buy expensive hay to feed their herds or sell off cattle. Forage specialists like Lisa Baxter say they've had very few calls this winter, a sign that there is simply no grass growing in the state. Farmers are now facing tough financial decisions as they struggle to keep their livestock fed.

Why it matters

Georgia's livestock industry is a major part of the state's agricultural economy, with cattle being one of the top commodities. The drought's impact on grasslands threatens the livelihoods of these farmers and could have ripple effects across the state's food supply chain if herds have to be significantly reduced.

The details

The drought has hit Georgia's predominant Bermuda grass pastures especially hard. Bermuda grass is an imported European annual species that typically yields 5-7 tons of hay per acre, but the lack of rainfall has prevented farmers from even planting it this season. With no grass to graze, farmers must either buy expensive hay to feed their cattle or sell off parts of their herds, both of which come at a major financial cost.

  • Since August 2025, most of Georgia has been in a severe or extreme drought.
  • Grasses entered dormancy 1-2 months early due to the drought, cutting harvests short.
  • The current La Niña climate pattern, which has been drying out the Southeast U.S. for the past 2 years, is likely a contributing factor.

The players

Lisa Baxter

A forage specialist in Tifton, Georgia who farmers can call for help diagnosing issues with their grasses. She says her phone has been unusually quiet this winter, a sign that there is simply no grass growing in the state.

Pam Knox

An agricultural climatologist at the University of Georgia who says the drought has forced farmers to either get rid of some of their cattle or buy expensive hay to feed them, which has been a major concern this year.

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What they’re saying

“When my phone's quiet, I know there's just no grass in Georgia.”

— Lisa Baxter, Forage Specialist (savannahnow.com)

“They either have to get rid of some of their cattle or buy hay to feed them. That has been a big concern this year.”

— Pam Knox, Agricultural Climatologist, University of Georgia (savannahnow.com)

What’s next

Climate scientists are still uncertain whether consistently dry years like this will continue, as the Southeast is expected to see wetter conditions next year during an El Niño season. However, the long-term impacts of climate change on Georgia's grasslands remain a concern.

The takeaway

This drought crisis highlights the vulnerability of Georgia's livestock industry to extreme weather events, and the difficult financial decisions farmers must make to keep their herds fed when pastures fail. It underscores the need for more resilient, climate-adaptive agricultural practices to help the state's farmers weather an increasingly unpredictable future.