From brittle, brown lawns and cracked soils to dry ponds and crops, the signs are clear: A large portion of Ohio is again officially in a drought.
From brittle, brown lawns and cracked soils to dry ponds and crops, the signs are clear: A large portion of Ohio is again officially in a drought.
Parts of central, southeast and southern Ohio are grappling with drought conditions that are wreaking havoc on local agriculture. The recent stretch of hot temperatures combined with scant rainfall has resulted in at least 63% of the state considered abnormally dry or worse, including 24% considered severe drought and 12% in extreme drought, according to the Aug. 22 update from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
This prolonged dry spell has left pastures parched and forage availability critically low, forcing some farmers to confront a dire shortage of hay, said Garth Ruff, an Ohio State University Extension field specialist in beef cattle and livestock marketing.
Read More: Ohio State University
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