The ongoing drought is severely impacting agriculture and water resources in Augusta and surrounding areas. Farmers are experiencing reduced hay yields and may need to feed livestock earlier than usual. Soil conditions are hard and dry, delaying planting activities, while smaller streams are drying up, and rivers are running at very low levels. Tree mortality is also becoming a concern. The drought is part of a broader pattern of extreme dryness across Georgia, with northern parts of the state experiencing extreme drought and southern areas facing exceptional drought conditions. These prolonged dry conditions are exacerbated by climate change, which increases evaporation rates and further depletes soil moisture.