WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) recemt;u hosted a news conference call with farmers and other leaders in Ohio agriculture to discuss the severe drought stretching across Southeast Ohio and share resources available to affected farmers. Ohio is currently experiencing the worst drought in the state since the Dust Bowl. Last week, Brown also hosted a webinar in partnership with USDA’s Farm Service Agency to help connect farmers with federal resources related to the drought.
“Ohio farmers are resourceful and resilient. I’m working to connect Ohio farmers with resources and make sure they have what they need to weather the worst Ohio drought in 100 years and come out strong,” said Brown.
“We appreciate Senator Brown bringing the challenges Ohio farmers are facing through this historic drought to the forefront. A number of farmers would not be able to sustain their operations into 2025 without Farm Bill programs, which Senator Brown advocated for, and other UDSA assistance now available to those most impacted,” said Adam Sharp, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Farm Bureau.
“As all successful teams do, the Farm Service Agency has been working closely with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio State Extension to provide all the support services necessary to assist Ohio producers during this time of historic challenge. Interested producers should consult the USDA website to explore our suite of programs applicable to their needs and then call their local FSA office to schedule an appointment. We stand ready to serve,” said Dr. John Patterson, State Executive Director of the USDA’s Ohio Farm Service Agency.
Drought conditions started in Ohio back in mid-June and have intensified all summer and are expected to only get worse in the near future. As a result, farmers across the state are struggling with very poor pasture conditions, finding and affording hay to feed animals, the cost of finding and hauling water, and failing crops. The drought is also leading to increased risk of fires in fields and forests throughout the state.
In response to the drought conditions, USDA has issued four natural disaster designations, which have in total designated 28 counties as primary disaster counties with an additional 17 counties classified as contiguous, covering more than half of Ohio’s 88 counties. These designations allow the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend assistance to agricultural producers through a variety of programs. These programs are available to both new and existing users of FSA services.
Brown is the first Ohioan to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 50 years. He has long been a leader for Ohio’s rural communities.
