As you are familiar with the ongoing drought in southern Ohio, Clinton County is no exception. Most homeowners have brown and dry lawns, while plants around the house need watering nearly every day. Some homeowners in the county who have wells or cisterns that supply their water source are finding that they are running out of water. While those that live in town can see the inconvenience of this drought, please take a moment to understand the implications for Clinton County’s farmers.
This week the northern and northeastern corners of Clinton County have been moved from D2- Severe drought to the new designation, D3-Extreme Drought. For these areas of the county that have received less timely rain than the western portion of the county, crop yields will be less than satisfactory. Low yields coupled with low crop prices will mean that many farmers might not have a profitable year. This is why it is important for farmers who qualify for USDA drought relief programs to take advantage.
So, what does D3 mean?
It means that a group of experts have evaluated the changing conditions that have resulted from the lack of precipitation to create the United States Drought Monitor Mapping System and determined that parts of Southwest Ohio have sustained drought conditions for so long that the impacts of drought will have an increased impact on the resiliency of the land to bounce back from drought conditions, to the point that the potential economic damage could be substantial.
The Drought Monitor website explains, “The USDM map provides a “snapshot” of current conditions. Authors build upon the previous week’s map, identifying areas that might have changed in response to recent weather patterns. They bring together the physical climate, weather and hydrology data and reconcile that with local expert feedback, impact reports and conditions observations.”
The practical, boots on the ground, explanation is this:
If D3 drought conditions are sustained, then the counties severely impacted by extreme drought may be eligible for disaster assistance through the Farm Service Agency. Producers who wish to seek assistance can get the most up-to-date information from the Farm Service Agency online at https://www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/disaster-tool. You can also reach out the Clinton County FSA office.
The staff of OSU Extension are here and willing to help assist producers however we can to develop ways to cope with the impacts of drought. Reach out to us at 937-382-0901 or [email protected] or visit our drought response website at: https://kx.osu.edu/page/early-drought-response.
Although D3 drought is never a good thing to see, we are now in the situation where USDA is offering assistance. I urge you to visit with FSA to see which programs are available for you.
Please also note that because of dry conditions, harvest has begun early this year. Please be considerate of farmers with equipment on the road to help keep everyone safe especially during this difficult time.
