Friday, August 06, 1999
Ohio's farmers may get drought aid
All but 2 counties to be declared disasters
BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
Don Volkerding of Morrow holds a corn ear damaged by drought.
(Ernest Coleman photo)
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COLUMBUS — As Ohio went another day without rain, federal officials announced Thursday that most of the state's farmers may be eligible for low-interest loans to cope with one of the worst droughts in history.
A panel of federal and state officials reviewed damage estimates from across the state, the first step in getting assistance to farmers, and the news wasn't good.
Warren County farmers, for example, are expected to lose about half their corn crop and 31 percent of their soybeans. Half the potato, tomato and pumpkin harvest in Hamilton and Butler counties already is lost.
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COUNTY LOSSES
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• Warren County: Corn, 52 percent loss; Soybeans, 31 percent loss; Sweet corn, 24 percent loss
• Clermont County: Unable to provide enough water or feed, farmers are selling off livestock at four to five times normal levels for this time of year.
• Hamilton and Butler counties (lumped together by federal officials): Of 1,100 farmers, 320 estimate crop losses of more than 30 percent. Half the potato, pumpkin and tomato crop already is lost.
• Adams County: Crop losses countywide are estimated to exceed 39 percent.
• Brown County: Of the county's 1,500 farmers, 150 estimate crop losses of more than 50 percent. More than 1,200 project losses of at least 30 percent.
Source: Ohio Farm Service Agency
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Based on data collected during the past two weeks, Gov. Bob Taft said he will ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare all but two of the state's 88 counties as federal drought disaster areas. The governor also is urging Congress to provide fund ing for grants and other forms of assistance.
“Even if it rains now, I don't think we'll get half our regular crop,” said Don Volkerding, who has been farming in southern Warren County for 50 years. “It's the worst I've seen in my time.”
Like many other farmers, Mr. Volkerding considered cutting his stunted corn plants early and feeding them to his cattle. But he found out this week that high concentrations of nitrates in the plants, remnants of chemicals injected into the soil to boost yields, could poison the animals.
Moreover, springs on his 281 acres have dried up, forcing him to haul in water for cattle for the first time since 1971.
The dire situation is obvious to anyone who has watched the skies or tried to poke through the parched earth of most farm fields.
Between April 1 and Aug. 1, rainfall in south-central Ohio was more than 6 inches below normal, according to the Ohio Agriculture Statistics Office. The shortfall is 4.5 inches in Southwest Ohio, and 5.5 inches in the southeastern portion of the state.
“We sometimes take for granted the food on our tables and the food on our shelves,” said Mr. Taft, who toured a pair of drought-ravaged farms south of Columbus Wednesday. “But we know that it wouldn't be there if farmers weren't taking the risks that they take to provide it.”
In Gallia County, up the Ohio River from Cincinnati, produce farmers were able to use irrigation systems to keep their plants growing. But the intense heat last month scorched blooms on most of the county's tomato and pepper plants.
More help could be on the way if Congress brokers a deal on a farm-aid package next month.
In an 89-8 vote, the U.S. Senate added $7.4 billion late Wednesday to an Agriculture Department spending bill for the budget year beginning Oct. 1, setting the stage for negotiations with the House.
Democrats and some farm-state Republicans are pushing for more money to help farmers hurt by the two-fisted blow of wilted crop yields and depressed prices.
The Senate's aid package included $5.5 billion in direct payments to most growers, a separate $475 million for soybean growers, $400 million in subsidies for crop insurance, $328 million for tobacco growers and $325 million in livestock assistance.
“We're hoping there will be more assistance than just low-interest loans,” said Fred Dailey, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
If U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman authorizes aid for Ohio farmers, it also would be extended to counties that border the state in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Ohio and Kentucky counties bordering West Virginia already are in line for help after Mr. Glickman declared that entire state a disaster area on Monday.
Ohio counties included in the declaration are Athens, Belmont, Columbiana, Gallia, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe and Washington. Those in Kentucky are Boyd, Lawrence, Martin and Pike.
The only Ohio counties not included in Mr. Taft's request were Darke and Lake. Those counties didn't report significant enough crop losses and aren't contiguous to counties that did.
Requesting federal aid is the state's latest response to the drought.
Citing declining groundwater levels across central and southern Ohio, Mr. Taft has asked residents east of Interstate 71 to voluntarily conserve water. He noted the National Weather Service is predicting below-average rainfall in the state during August.
State officials also have set up a toll-free phone number, (800)282-1955, to link hay suppliers to Ohio livestock farmers.
And the state is allowing water to be taken from more than 150 state lakes and reservoirs for emergency livestock use, firefighting and community water systems.
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