By Stephen Smoot
While the remnants of what was once Hurricane Debby interact with cooler northern air and bring refreshing rains to the region, for many farmers it comes as too little, too late. Too many fields of corn show stunted growth while too many pastures have failed to grow enough to feed livestock.
The West Virginia Conservation Agency and Potomac Valley Conservation District have activated plans to assist farmers during the drought, which the federal government rates as D3, or “extreme drought.”
Lois Carr, from the PVCD, says that farmers currently face significant challenges in “lack of grazing and lack of water. They can’t make hay because the hay didn’t grow. A lot of farmers are suffering a loss.”
She added that a lot of farmers have started feeding from hay reserves with pastures unable to support livestock.
Through PVCD and WVCA, farmers can apply for a financial relief program designed to help to ease the burdens of getting water to crops, pastures, and livestock. Carr said, “They’re offering 50 percent of the cost” of equipment such as portable watering troughs, pumps, fittings, and other items that can be used to get water where needed on farms.
That 50 percent is applicable up to a total purchase of $500. “If they should buy a trough that costs $500, they get reimbursed half of that cost,” she explained.
Also, “it’s strictly for agricultural use only,” Carr stated. The program can only be used to help with temporary, but not permanent, measures.
As of now, this is the only program available. Pendleton County’s Farm Service Agency may be offering information on federally based options starting next week.
Carr stated that “the sign up period is now.” Those who are interested should go ahead and buy, keep the receipts, then apply later. They do not need to be registered for the program first to be eligible for reimbursement. “That’s the good part,” Carr said.
As for the drought itself, federal online sources tracking conditions currently show an expectation of improvement. Temperatures in general have eased downward and the drought condition itself is expected to improve now by the end of the month.
Much of the expectation of improvement comes from the anticipated (as of this writing) impact of the remnants of Hurricane Debby. Western regions of the county may see two inches, but the central and eastern valleys may get up to five inches over a several day period.
