Ohio is in the middle of the worst drought our state has seen in over a century. It’s been particularly bad in Southeast Ohio, but Ohioans all over our state are feeling its effects.
During drought conditions, crops don’t grow as high, yields are stunted, and dry fields put farms at a higher risk of fires. Right now, Ohio farmers are reporting poor pasture conditions, weak hay growth, low ponds, and dry creeks. They are spending more money on buying and hauling feed and water just to salvage crop yields and keep animals alive. And this is all coming at a time in which farmers were already struggling with low commodity prices and high input costs.
Farmers are used to uncertainty and bad weather, but this is worse than a dry spell. This is an emergency…