More on drought from the governor’s desk

Posted on by Kent Priestley

In a letter to the U.S. Agriculture Secretary this week, Gov. Mike Easley asked for a disaster declaration for 85 of the state’s 100 counties on account of crop losses due to drought.

According to a USDA assessment, most of the counties Easley cited have lost a third or more of at least one significant crop. The drought, which has been most severe in the counties west of Asheville, has affected not only field crops but has significantly reduced the quality and supply of hay, impacting livestock such as beef cattle and requiring some farmers to sell off at least portions of their herds.

Nearby, Easley’s request includes Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Mitchell and Transylvania counties.

— Kent Priestley, staff writer

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4 thoughts on “More on drought from the governor’s desk”

  1. donaldoro

    western nc is at about 40 percent avg rainfall…

    but global climate change and the necessary complete change in our lifestyle is just an unproven theory.

  2. subversive asheville

    i don’t understand how people continue to say that a global scientific consensus is an “unproven theory”. the only scientists in the world that disagree with with theories of climate change are those that get paid off by polluting industries.

    all real scientists agree that drastic lifestyle change is the *only* way to prevent the worst possibilities of climate chaos from coming true.

  3. donaldoro

    *sigh* i guess i needed to use my *subtle sarcasm* font .

    didnt think it was necesary after the “below 40 percent avg rainfal” part

    but, yes, you are right. poking fun at the very same stupidness. i find it funny that people in wnc could debate the validity of global warming when we are below 40 percent of our average rainfal. maybe worse.

    we agree, sub asheville.

    duh.

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