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According to the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority, rainfall totals for the year have decreased significantly, which is why Covington County Extension Office director Charles Simon said there has been a hay shortage recently.

“The problem that we have right now is that hay is short,” Simon said. “Farmers are just making do with what they can get. Some farmers even have to sell their cattle because there is just not enough hay for them right now.”

Despite the decrease, Simon is hopeful that in the next couple of weeks they will see more rain.

“Our farms’ ponds are really low right now,” Simon said. “When they are low, that actually impacts fishing, as well. Our ponds are filling up because of the rain we have gotten, and hopefully, we will get a big rain this weekend to get it back to normal. I think we have turned a corner, but we are hoping for some rain this weekend.”

Last year the rainfall total recorded by Hwy. 55 was at 57.68 inches. This year, it was recorded at 43.67 inches.

At Hwy. 84, they recorded 80.80 inches of rain last year and 49.23 inches of rain this year.