This photo is from the Eastern Agricultural Research Station in Noble County.

Drought update from Aaron Wilson, our ag weather and climate field specialist September 5, 2024: While not enough to overcome drought conditions in the area, some much needed rain fell across portions of Jackson, Meigs, Athens, Noble, Washington, Monroe, and Belmont Counties this week. It was enough to halt further degradation of drought there, but for folks farther north, this was not the case. From Pickaway to Tuscarawas Counties, very little rain capped off one of the driest Augusts and summers (June-August) on record. Combined with scorching late August heat, with numerous days with highs in the mid to upper 90s, what was left of crops withered under these conditions. In fact, dry conditions persisted for much of the state, exacerbating abnormally dry and drought conditions across much of Ohio. Please continue submitting Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (https://droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3gXWkOeghaD0jrKm_Hpfa7bqmYHlHkSTa63cqB9SmUcK7Imp-EfgDLbpk) to help us keep track of drought impacts. We really appreciate all the submissions to date. For more information, including impacts for non-agricultural related interests, please visit the State Climate Office’s Drought page — https://climate.osu.edu/drought?utm_campaign=faes_marketing-activity_fy25&utm_content=1725544140&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook. As drought conditions continue and impacts mount, please check in on your neighbors and friends. Mental health is important, and if you are struggling to deal with these conditions, you are not alone. Please visit our Farm Stress Resources for more information – https://kx.osu.edu/story/supporting-farmers-drought?utm_campaign=faes_marketing-activity_fy25&utm_content=1725544140&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.