Continuing drought leaves officials scrambling to cope

Farm businesses will suffer the most, agriculture secretary says

RALEIGH (AP) - The record-setting drought that has forced the governor to plead for conservation, home-owners to shelve their lawn sprinklers and farmers to drain their ponds for irrigation is only forecast to get worse in the new year.

If the predictions come true, convenience won’t be the only casualty.

North Carolina’s multibillion-dollar agriculture industry is preparing for what may be a devastating year for both crops and livestock, while local governments are looking at emergency plans - and expensive solutions - for water systems on the brink of crisis.