Wednesday, August 11, 1999
Parched Ohio a disaster area
Farmers in 86 counties eligible for low-rate loans
BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE and MOLLY HARPER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Farmers would rather see rain and robust crop prices. Instead, they may be eligible for low-interest federal loans to cope with one of the worst droughts in history.
In the government's latest response to the drought, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman designated all but two of Ohio's 88 counties — along with border counties in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania — as federal disaster areas Tuesday.
That means farmers can start applying for assistance once the federal budget year begins Oct. 1, most likely through their local Farm Service Agency offices.
While federal aid is limited to loans, farm state politicians are pushing Congress to do more for farmers hurt by the two-fisted blow of wilted crop yields and depressed prices.
“Farmers don't need more loans. They're already faced with enough debt,” Ohio Gov. Bob Taft said. “What we need is for Congress to put money into ex isting disaster relief programs.”
Despite rain showers that moved through the region during the weekend, many farmers are facing significant crop losses and selling off livestock early to cut feeding costs.
Between April 1 and Aug. 8, rainfall in south-central Ohio was more than 7 inches below normal, according to the Ohio Agriculture Statistics Office. The shortfall is 5.4 inches in Southwestern Ohio, and 6.5 inches in the southeastern portion of the state.
Southern Ohio has been among the regions hit hardest.
Warren County farmers are expected to lose about half their corn crop and 31 percent of their soybeans. Half the potato, tomato and pumpkin harvest in Hamilton and Butler counties is lost.
Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton has requested disaster declarations for all but three of the state's 120 counties — Crittenden, Henderson and Webster.
“There's no question we're in a crisis situation that exists regardless of weather,” said John-Mark Hack, director of the Governor's Office for Agricultural Policy.
Damage to Kentucky's tobacco crop has been moderate, but heat and lack of rain prevented many corn and soybean plants from pollinating and maturing, said Kim Kinman, executive director of the Farm Service Agency for Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.
More help could be on the way if Congress brokers a deal on a farm-aid package next month. The U.S. Senate added $7.4 billion last week to an Agriculture Department spending bill, setting the stage for negotiations with the House.
Because Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana counties border Ohio counties considered disaster areas, federal rules automatically make farmers in those areas eligible for aid.
Ohio and Kentucky counties bordering West Virginia already were in line for help after Mr. Glickman declared that entire state a disaster area last week.
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