2024 Drought Relief Resources

From early harvests to closed pumpkin patches to increased risk of combine fires, Ohio’s prolonged drought is impacting all facets of agriculture. As of October 18, 2024, 49 Ohio counties have been declared primary disaster counties, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. With conditions unlike any we’ve seen in recent decades, many Ohio counties have been declared primary natural disaster areas.

There are resources to support farmers through these trying times. We will regularly update this post as resources become available. If you know of another type of available support that should be included on this list, please email heather@oeffa.org.

• National Livestock Assistance Programs
• National Crop Losses Programs
• National Farmland Damage Programs
• National Farm Loans
• Ohio Programs
• West Virginia Programs
• Mental Health Resources
• Other Tips

National Livestock Assistance Programs

If you have grazing livestock and are experiencing the impacts of this drought, visit the U.S. Drought Monitor. It can help you find out whether you qualify for assistance or not. Qualifying for assistance is also based on your county’s designated grazing periods. For Ohio, the 2024 LFP grazing period started on April 1, 2024, and ends on October 31, 2024.

Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): Provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses on native or improved pastureland with permanent vegetative cover or that is planted specifically for grazing. (Factsheet)

➡️ LFP was created out of the 2014 Farm Bill but has never been used in Ohio until this year. The program is able to provide support quickly, but it’s recommended that you contact your local FSA to start the process as soon as possible.

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): Provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths caused by adverse weather.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP): Provides emergency assistance to eligible producers for losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions not covered by LFP and LIP.

Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP): Provides eligible livestock producers emergency relief payments to compensate for increases in supplemental feed costs.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Haying and Grazing: FSA permits emergency haying and grazing on certain CRP practices in counties designated D2 or higher on the U.S Drought Monitor, or where there is at least a 40 percent loss in forage production. *As of September 19, 2024, 70 counties in Ohio are eligible

National Crop Losses Programs

Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): Pays covered producers of covered noninsurable crops for low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting due to natural disasters. *Eligible producers must have purchased NAP coverage for the current crop year

➡️ Producers who are interested in the NAP for 2025 need to apply for coverage by November 20, 2024, With the ongoing drought, producers are encouraged to consider NAP coverage for forage for hay and pasture.

Tree Assistance Program (TAP): Provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers with trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters.

National Farmland Damage Programs

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): Helps farmers and ranchers repair damage to farmland caused by natural disasters and establish water conservation methods during severe drought. As of October 17, 2024, four counties are eligible for ECP support: Fairfield, Perry, Muskingum, and Morgan. Contact your local FSA to see if this program can be administered in other counties.

Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP): Helps owners of non-industrial private forests repair damage from natural disasters.

National Farm Loans

Emergency Loan Program: Provides loans to help producers recover from losses due to drought, flooding, or other natural disasters. *Only available for producers in counties declared as natural disaster areas

Disaster Set-Aside Program: Provides producers with existing direct loans with FSA who are unable to make scheduled payments move up to one full year’s payment to the end of the loan. *Assistance available in counties or contiguous counties designated as emergencies

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations in a declared disaster area may be eligible for a loan to cover substantial economic injury.

Helpful National Resources

• Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool: Learn about USDA disaster assistance program with an easy-to-use, five-step tool.
• Disaster-at-a-Glance Factsheet: Quickly see what types of disaster programs are available for different types of disaster, including drought.
• US Drought Program Factsheet: Learn more about the US Drought Monitor and USDA drought programs
• Farm Loan Assistance Tool: Learn more about FSA loans and their eligibility requirements.
• USDA Climate Hubs: See drought information and links to submit reports to the Drought Impact Reporter.
• Drought Monitor Fact Sheet: Learn more about the U.S. Drought Monitor and how it’s used as a trigger for natural disaster programs.
• Senator Brown Webinar: USDA FSA Drought Disaster Programs (presentation slides): On September 12, 2024, Senator Brown’s office were joined by FSA representatives to share information about their disaster programs.

Ohio Programs

Ohio Hay Directory: Farmers have several options for purchasing hay. USDA’s ELAP (mentioned above) may reimburse a percentage of additional costs incurred for transporting livestock feed due to the drought.

Jackson County Hay List: Southern Ohio producers can use this resource to sell or buy hay.

Helpful Local Resources

• OSU CFAES Drought Conditions and Resources: See weekly updates from the CFAES Rapid Response Team, who are providing science-based recommendations to protect livestock, crops, and farm operations.
• State Climate Office of Ohio’s Drought Page: Access news and resources for information on drought coverage, response plans, and condition reporting.
• State Climate Office People: See listing of staff and students who can be contacted with drought-related questions and updates.
• Special Drought Webinar for West Virginia and Ohio (recording): The special drought webinar includes information and resources, along with outlooks for Fall 2024 and impacts across the agriculture sector.
• Ohio FSA Office Locator: Use this resource to find and locate your local Farm Service Agency office.
• AllHay.com: Use this public listing site to buy or sell hay in all 50 states.

West Virginia Programs

WVDA Drought Assistance Resources: See West Virginia’s current drought status, along with a hay directory, water cost-share program, upcoming meeting dates, and other resources.

Mental Health Resources

Ohio Mental Health Resource Guides: See mental health and substance use disorder resources for all 88 Ohio counties.

Ohio CareLine: Call (800) 720-9616 to reach a confidential, free resource that is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and is staffed by behavioral health professionals.

ODA’s Got Your Back Page: Access resources for farm stress and health in a crisis.

MVEG Farmer Resiliency & Mental Health Resources: See a compilation of resources from the Midwest Vegetable Growers Network (MVEG).

Farm Aid’s Farmer Hotline: Fill out a request for assistance or call the Farmer Hotline at (800) 327-6243. Farm Aid staff answer Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text caring counselors when dealing with mental health struggles, emotional distress, or alcohol or drug use concerns. Call now by dialing 988.

SAMHSA National Helpline: Call (800) 662-HELP for 24/7 treatment referral and information service for mental health and drug/alcohol use disorders in English and Spanish.

Tips to Help You Cope with Eco-Anxiety: Learn what eco-anxiety is, its common causes, and what you can do to cope with it.

Other Tips

Know that you are not alone. Check on your neighbor. We need to support one another now more than ever.

Take care to prevent combine fires and hay bale fires. Prepare with an effective drought plan.

Keep track of all expenses—water purchases/transportation, hay purchases/transportation, and equipment. Contact your local Farm Service Agency office to be sure your drought challenges are on record.

Reach out to OEFFA’s sustainable agriculture educators with any questions or comments.