The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially designated 22 counties in Ohio as natural disaster areas due to the severe drought affecting the state. This declaration, announced on Tuesday by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, enables farmers in these counties and 18 neighboring ones to apply for emergency loans from the federal government.
The drought has been particularly harsh this summer, with the southeastern region of Ohio bearing the brunt of the dry conditions.
The affected counties include:
- Athens
- Belmont
- Fairfield
- Fayette
- Gallia
- Guernsey
- Harrison
- Highland
- Hocking
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Madison
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Muskingum
- Noble
- Perry
- Pickaway
- Pike
- Ross
- Vinton
- Washington
In addition to these, farmers in neighboring counties are also eligible for assistance. These include Adams, Brown, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Franklin, Greene, Lawrence, Licking, Meigs, Scioto, Tuscarawas, and Union counties.
The USDA reports that these areas have experienced eight or more consecutive weeks of severe drought conditions. The declaration allows farmers to apply for loans to cover recovery needs, such as replacing essential equipment or livestock, reorganizing their farming operations, or refinancing certain debts. The loans will be evaluated based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability. The application deadline for these loans is April 28, 2025.
The drought’s impact has been significant, with Columbus experiencing its third driest summer since 1879. From June 1 to August 31, the city received only 5.07 inches of rain, well below the normal 12.74 inches for this period. Approximately 75% of the state is currently under some level of drought, with nearly 43% facing “Severe Drought” conditions or worse. Notably, parts of Athens and Meigs County are experiencing “Exceptional Drought,” a first in the history of the U.S. Drought Monitor for these areas.
For those in need of assistance, the USDA’s emergency loan program provides critical support to help mitigate the financial impact of this prolonged drought.
The next anticipated rainfall for the central Ohio region is forecasted for Friday.
