$10 Million in Drought Relief Funding Available to Ohio Farmers

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is announcing the sign-up period for farmers to apply for state drought relief funding will begin February 15, 2025, and will close April 1, 2025. Extreme weather conditions throughout the spring and summer significantly impacted Ohio’s agricultural producers.

“When your livelihood depends on the weather, droughts can be devastating,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “This funding relief will ensure our farmers have access to additional resources that will help strengthen their operations.”

Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 54 into law in December of 2024, which allocated state funding to provide relief to producers who faced challenging, persistent conditions. The legislation was spearheaded by State Representative Don Jones (Freeport), former State Representative Jay Edwards (Nelsonville) and State Senator Brian Chavez (Marietta).

Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts will help administer the relief funding to 28 counties designated as primary natural disaster areas by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) between August 19th and September 16th, 2024, due to drought. Funding is available to any livestock producer participating in the USDA FSA Livestock Forage Disaster Program in a county designated as a primary natural disaster area.

The 28 counties are: Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Licking, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington. (See map attached).

Some farmers are still feeling the impacts of the drought, that resulted in depleted hay and water supplies and created mental health stressors for farmers and their families.

“From mental health challenges to loss of production, lack of water for livestock, and financial concerns, our producers felt extreme pressures. As a seventh-generation farmer, I know the uncertainty that comes with the job,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “Ohio’s agricultural communities are resilient, and I am thankful for Governor DeWine and the Ohio legislature for their unwavering support of our producers. This funding assistance will help provide additional relief to our hard-working farming communities.”

Livestock producers located in the 28 impacted counties are encouraged to contact their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts to discuss eligibility and to apply for funding.