ATHENS, Ind. — Many ag irrigators across the state, especially in northern Indiana, received a letter last week asking them to voluntarily restrict their water usage by 10-15 percent because of the historic drought hitting every county.

About 3,500 “significant water withdrawal facilities” in the state received similar requests – including public water suppliers, industrial, fish hatcheries and power generators, said Mark Basch, head of the Water Rights and Usage Section of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Facing a below-average soybean crop, Tom Weaver, a farmer in Athens, Ind., was not especially pleased with the request. He irrigates half of his 1,200 acres of soybeans.

“It’s a little like they’re saying, ‘We’re short of money. Would you voluntarily reduce your salary by 10 to 15 percent?’” he said. “These mandates should be across the board. This affects my income, unlike the person watering their lawn.”

Weaver said farmers who irrigate do not use any more water than they need in a normal year because of the high cost of electricity.

“Water is a precious resource. I try not to use any more than I have to every day. It sometimes costs me $4,000 on my electric bill to run my irrigators. One thing I began doing recently is running them at night (to improve efficiency),” he added.

Weaver’s water comes from large wells dug on his property. His irrigated soybeans are doing “okay,” provided he gets rain in the next few weeks, and his non-irrigated are fighting more weeds and pests due to the lack of chemical absorption from the dry soil.

The DNR and Indiana Department of Homeland Security last week issued a water shortage warning for Indiana owing to drought conditions in all counties – prompting the call for voluntary reduction in usage. By definition, significant water withdrawal facilities use at least 100,000 gallons of water per day.

Officials also are calling for all Hoosiers to voluntarily reduce their water consumption. Conservation experts recommend cutting non-essential water use, such as watering grass, fixing leaks and turning off running water when brushing teeth, to name a few. Indianapolis residents have been issued a local ban on watering grass and washing cars. Non-compliant citizens can be ticketed. Other communities throughout the state are following suit, as needed.

“The National Weather Service is comparing this drought to the years of 1935-36 (the Dust Bowl years). It has exceeded the drought in 1988. In Indianapolis it is the driest year on record,” Basch said.

The next stage in Indiana’s Water Shortage Plan is a water shortage emergency, in which mandatory reductions would be in force. Basch does not foresee this next stage.

The National Weather Service, however, predicts that the historic drought will continue or worsen until Sept. 30.

The U.S. Drought Monitor update last Thursday indicated 54 percent of the state is in extreme drought, the second-highest level of dryness. Other counties are in varying levels of drought.

Indiana is 7.56 inches below normal precipitation to date for the year. Basch said an inch of rainfall would be needed each week until the end of the year to end the drought. His biggest worry is the state will begin next year with a deficit in rainfall.

Weaver’s soybeans – and others throughout the state – may be in for a good surprise, however. Indiana is expected to receive normal rainfall for the next two weeks, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“This is something that hasn’t been forecast in a long time,” said Ken Scheeringa, associate state climatologist, based at Purdue University.

He noted the scorching heat is expected to continue through July.

“The beans are okay for now. The next few weeks will be critical,” Weaver said.

For more on the drought, go to www. purdue.edu/drought or www.in.gov/dhs/ getprepared.htm and for resources for farmers in drought conditions, visit www. in.gov/isda/2533.htm or www. usda.gov and click on “drought assistance.”