Ohio State Establishes Drought Rapid Response Team to Support Farmers and Growers

Ohio is currently experiencing drought conditions, with over 62% of the state categorized as being in moderate drought and nearly 98% considered abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. To address the growing concerns among farmers and producers, Ohio State University (OSU) College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) has created a Drought Rapid Response team. This 25-member team convenes weekly to monitor conditions and provide valuable information and resources to farmers, gardeners, and turfgrass managers on managing through a drought.

The team has developed an Early Drought Response webpage to offer science-based recommendations for protecting livestock, crops, and farm operations from the impacts of weather and extreme events. Recognizing the significance of the expanding drought conditions, the team aims to provide accurate and timely information to help individuals make informed decisions. Collaboration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and regular updates to state and federal officials ensure that the team's findings and recommendations are effectively communicated.

The drought webpage, available at go.osu.edu/ohiodrought, offers access to a range of CFAES resources and newsletters tailored to specific agricultural areas and topics. While the current conditions bear similarities to the 2012 drought, experts emphasize that each drought is unique and caution against automatically assuming similar outcomes. With the entire state experiencing dry conditions, prompt action and resource utilization become crucial to mitigating the effects of the drought on crops and agricultural operations.

Farmers have already made significant progress in planting corn and soybeans, concerns about excessive dryness have arisen. Reports of drought stress in corn and challenges related to crop emergence have emerged in various counties. The Drought Rapid Response team aims to provide ongoing support and guidance to farmers and growers throughout the duration of the drought.

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