Northampton County Seeks State Agricultural Disaster Declaration After Heat, Drought Devastate 2025 Crop Season

Northampton County officials are seeking state assistance after months of extreme heat and drought caused severe and widespread crop failures across the Eastern Shore. The Board of Supervisors is considering a resolution supporting a formal appeal for a state agricultural disaster declaration, following a detailed report from Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Helene Doughty.

According to Doughty, the 2025 growing season brought some of the harshest conditions local farmers have seen in decades. In late June, heat indexes reached 108 degrees—hitting during the most vulnerable reproductive stages of field corn, soybean, and potato crops. While much of Virginia experienced dry weather, Northampton faced a uniquely intense and prolonged drought, compounding stress on already weakened fields.

The impact on corn production has been particularly severe. Average yields dropped by 60 percent, with some farms reporting losses of up to 77 percent. Extension surveys noted early senescence, poor pollination, and in some fields, no ear formation at all. Thirteen crop insurance claims related to heat and drought damage have already been approved for corn alone.

Soybean growers suffered similar setbacks. High temperatures and parched soils caused widespread flower abortion, limited root development, heat canker, and early plant decline. Non-irrigated soybeans—which account for roughly 95 percent of Northampton’s production—averaged just 15 bushels per acre. That marks a devastating 60–75 percent reduction from typical yields. Farmers also battled elevated pest pressure, including corn earworm and beet armyworm infestations, leading to additional losses. Thirteen insurance claims for soybean damage have been approved to date.

The drought’s effects extended to other regional crops as well. Potato growers on the Eastern Shore—normally part of one of the state’s most dependable agricultural sectors—reported significant size and quality reductions due to heat stress, though full assessments are still underway. Hay and pasture conditions across both Northampton and neighboring Accomack County also deteriorated sharply, forcing livestock producers to purchase supplemental feed in what is already a high-cost commodity market.

The request for a disaster declaration follows similar struggles across portions of the Mid-Atlantic this year. Several counties in Maryland and Delaware reported comparable drought impacts, prompting both state-level reviews and appeals for federal relief. If approved, a Virginia agricultural disaster declaration could open the door to low-interest loans, emergency support programs, and other resources for affected Northampton farmers.

2025’s extreme weather carries broader implications for the Eastern Shore’s agricultural economy, where family-run farms anchor both local employment and large segments of the region’s food supply chain. Many growers say that without state assistance, financial recovery could take years.

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Wayne Creed

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