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by Buckeye Farm News Staff

What a difference 10 weeks makes. In mid June, Buckeye Farm News featured interviews with Farm Bureau members to assess the wet weather’s impact on Ohio farmers. Now, drought instead of drowning has become the concern. Below, you can read about how things have shaped up during the growing season for some of those same farmers.

Like most years, conditions around the state are spotty. Some growers still have hope for reasonable yields. But for many others, the wet spring and dry summer will mean a sparse fall harvest.

In anticipation of this, the Ohio and American Farm Bureaus are busy in Washington D.C. conveying the seriousness of the situation to Congress and the Bush administration. Several disaster assistance packages are being considered with action expected after the congressional recess.

State and federal agencies may soon begin the formal process of disaster assessment. It’s important that their data be backed up by first-hand commentary from farmers. OFBF is seeking your input on crop conditions, yield expectations and most importantly, what kind of help is necessary to get through the year. You’re being asked to share your ideas and thoughts with OFBF staff. Send comments and questions to the Ohio Farm Bureau at reverman@ofbf.org or call 614-249-2474. If you prefer, visit with your Organization Directors and ask that they forward your comments to Columbus. OFBF will compile your responses with those gathered at Leadership Conference. The information will be used to make sure all levels of government have a very clear picture of the conditions facing Ohio’s farmers.

Meanwhile, the OSU College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has created a Web site to help answer farmers’ questions about the drought’s impact on crops and livestock. The site contains fact sheets, bulletins, news releases and other resources. You may access the site via OFBF’s home page at www.ofbf.org. Click on "featured links."

• Calvin Aicholtz, Clermont County: Aicholtz said it has been a season of two extremes – seven weeks of rain and nine weeks of drought. He lost his first six plantings of sweet corn; his last four plantings might be all right. He is expecting a half crop of tomatoes and green beans. He even thinks pumpkins will be affected. He has no water source for irrigation, and those in his area with small ponds have pumped them dry in a short time. He won't have enough produce to open his farm market this year. "I believe this is even worse than 1988. [Farmers] always say 'I've never seen it any worse' and this year I believe it is the worst I've ever seen," he said. However, he is optimistic for next year.

• Roger Baker, Wayne County: Baker reports the ground to be very dry and rains very spotty. "If we don't get any more rain, we won't be fourth cutting hay," he said. "The hay we cut two weeks ago just isn't growing back." He said the wheat and straw crops and the first two cuttings of hay were OK. On his farm and with the people he's talked to, decision time has arrived. Baker said they have to decide to chop for corn silage or "basically take our beating. In 1988, the rains came in the end of July and saved things. This is worse," he said. "Corn is not going to be a pretty picture," he said.

• Allen Bohman, Darke County: Bohman is located in northern Darke County, 1/2 mile from the Mercer County line. In June, he received 7/10 of an inch of rain and in July, 3/10 of an inch. He received 6/10 of an inch on Aug. 6, but the next day "you didn't even know it had happened." Bohman expressed frustration when he said he would see some decent rain in Indiana, making its way toward Ohio, but at the Ohio line it would fizzle out. He said: "Some rain now might help the (soy)beans." In the drought of 1988, corn yields were 40 to 60 bushels per acre, "but I don't know if we'll even get that," he said. He predicts some fields with no yield. The corn is waist high and tasseled out. He said some farmers in his area started chopping corn for silage this week.

• Tom Jolly, Vinton County: Jolly has had enough rain and has not been affected by the drought. He said they have been dry for the past month, but all the rain a month ago has managed to get him through. His corn is 8 to 10 feet tall and he is expecting average yields. "Low cattle prices are the only problem we have now," he said.

• Rick King, Putnam County: "We have major dry weather here, but are faring better than some. It's too depressing to really investigate," but he has noticed pollination problems due to the high heat and low moisture. He has had 2 inches of rain in the last two months, which "is not enough to make a crop. There is no rain in the forecast and some farmers are not sure they will harvest anything," he said, adding the corn has tasseled and the ears are filling, but from the road they look nubby. Soybeans are shorter than normal. His gut feeling is that they are maturing ahead of normal and many in the county have poor stands. "We won't know for sure until harvest," King said.

• Janet Stacy, Washington County: Fortunately, the Stacys' have a well they can pump water from to irrigate their sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cantaloupe and squash. "Our water supply is OK," she said. The ground is extremely dry and they did lose some of their corn plantings. Stacy said they are watering more than they did last year. "You have to go forward," she said. "We're doing the best we can to create a quality product. [Temperatures in] the 90s for a week straight is hard on corn and us. It's hard to deal with."