By Andi Anderson
Ohio is currently grappling with severe drought conditions, impacting a significant portion of the state’s agriculture. The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) has activated its Drought Rapid Response Team to help farmers and producers navigate these challenging times.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of August 22, 63% of Ohio is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with 24% in severe drought and 12% in extreme drought.
The prolonged dry spell, coupled with high temperatures, has led to critically low forage availability and parched pastures, leaving many farmers facing dire shortages of hay.
Garth Ruff, an OSU Extension field specialist in beef cattle and livestock marketing, noted that some farmers are now hauling water daily as ponds, creeks, and springs have dried up, adding significant costs and labor to their operations.
To address these challenges, the Drought Rapid Response Team, which meets weekly, is providing farmers with the latest information and resources on how to manage the drought. The team also updates its Drought Conditions and Resources webpage regularly, offering guidance for those impacted by the drought.
Aaron Wilson, Ohio’s state climatologist and an OSU Extension field specialist, emphasized that the drought situation is likely to worsen, with little to no rainfall expected in the coming days and temperatures predicted to rise.
This has further strained soil moisture levels, affected pasture conditions, and impacted grain fill in corn and soybean crops across the state.
The drought has also raised concerns about potential toxicity in forage crops, such as corn and sorghum, due to nitrate accumulation.
Jason Hartschuh, an OSU Extension field specialist in dairy management and precision livestock, warned that this could pose risks to livestock health, as many farmers are already relying on hay to feed their herds due to the lack of pasture growth.
In addition to livestock challenges, grain farmers are also feeling the effects of the drought, with shortened grain-fill periods leading to lower yields.
Stephanie Karhoff, an OSU Extension field specialist in agronomic systems, suggested that farmers consider planting cover crops like cereal rye after the fall harvest to retain soil nitrogen. However, this strategy may be challenging if dry conditions persist.
Vegetable and specialty crop farmers are also experiencing increased insect pest pressure due to the hot and dry conditions. Logan Minter, an OSU Extension field specialist in specialty crops production systems, highlighted the compounded issues faced by these farmers, following a mild winter and the current summer drought.
As the drought continues to challenge Ohio’s agricultural community, the Drought Rapid Response Team remains committed to providing the necessary support and resources to help farmers and producers manage this ongoing crisis.
Photo Credit: ohio-state-university
Categories: Ohio, Education