AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — In Alabama, September and October are traditionally the driest months of year. So far in 2025, conditions are worse than usual. Drought was also severe the past two falls, leaving some worried what a third consecutive year of dry weather could mean for Alabama farmers.

Laura Cooley, an aquatic resources expert with Alabama Extension at Auburn University, said conditions have been rough, especially in the western part of the state. As of late-September, almost 95% of Alabama was experiencing some level of dryness or drought.

“Drought can severely reduce water availability and quality, which is essential for productive farms and grazing lands,” Cooley said. “This can lead to both direct and indirect economic losses in the agricultural sector. A third consecutive fall drought could have serious impacts on farmers, who are already facing losses from the past two years.”

For farmers like Jack Robertson, who raises beef cattle in Chambers County, the effects of drought are layered and wide ranging. When it comes to hay production, Robertson said mid-to-late-summer droughts usually affect the third and fourth forage cuttings but can even impact the second cutting in some years.

“Late-season droughts decrease the amount of stockpiled forages going into winter, and you lose the value of nitrogen fertilizer you put into your forage,” Robertson said. “Drought also delays the planting of winter grazing, and if you have to supplement feed, you are paying more than it would have cost to grow the forage. This, in the long run, means droughts cost you more money and time for less beef production.”

Report Now. Plan for the Future.

Unfortunately, many strategies for mitigating drought — such as installing irrigation systems — have to be in place before it occurs to be effective. However, by reporting conditions and their impacts, farmers play an important role in data collection, which can affect potential economic relief.

Cooley encourages farmers to submit their observations to the Condition Monitoring Observation Reports system, available through the National Drought Mitigation Center.

“This data helps improve the accuracy of the U.S. Drought Monitor map and directly influences the allocation of certain federal livestock and forage assistance funding,” Cooley said.

In addition to reporting conditions now, farmers can also better plan for future conditions. While all tactics may not work for every farm, simple things like soil health and variety selection can play a role in mitigation.

“By being aware of drought conditions in previous years and planning accordingly, farmers can mitigate some of these risks early on,” Cooley said. “Through things like adopting drought-resistant crop varieties, improving water management practices, diversifying crops and improving soil health, farmers give themselves a fighting chance against drought.”

Extension is Here to Help

Alabama Extension is committed to helping farmers face drought conditions. Teams of Extension agents, specialists, researchers and others are consistently providing information and working directly with farmers to improve their operations. Through programs such as Alabama Drought Reach, Cooley said Extension is improving communications and impact monitoring in Alabama.

“Alabama Drought Reach’s vision is to better document droughts’ impacts on agriculture and create a more-informed scientific and agricultural community,” Cooley said.

For more information, visit aaes.auburn.edu/wrc/extension-outreach2/al-drought-reach/ or follow Alabama Drought Reach on Facebook. The Alabama Extension publications, “What is Drought? Understanding the Basics” and “Drought in Alabama,” are also great resources. Find those at aces.edu.