Drought

After a summer of heat, drought, and other weather-related problems, the federal government has declared 85 of Ohio's 88 counties disaster areas.

The USDA has approved disaster designations for an additional 144 counties affected by the summer drought, including 20 in Ohio.

About 3,000 pounds of hay have been donated to drought-stricken dairy
farmers struggling to feed cattle in eastern Ohio, thanks to a network of Mennonite agencies.
 

The US Agriculture Department has classified an additional 218 counties and a dozen states as disaster areas due to the nation's drought. That brings this year's total to nearly 1600 counties in Ohio and 31 other states. More than 90% of them because of the drought. A national monitor map by the University of Nebraska shows Ohio is in a moderate drought. Ohio State University agricultural economist Matt Roberts tells statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen recent rainfall cannot reverse much of the damaged crop yields.