<b>By JANE HOUIN<br>
Ohio Correspondent</b> </p><p>

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — The USDA has officially designated all 88 Ohio counties as natural disasters areas due to losses from this year’s drought and heat conditions.</p><p>
Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs has expressed appreciation for the USDA’s decision.</p><p>
“Ohio farmers experienced a multitude of extreme growing conditions this year, including the drought that launched our growing season,” Boggs said. “The disaster assistance from USDA is greatly appreciated and is a critical piece in helping farmers recover and offset their crop and livestock production losses.”</p><p>
In the natural disaster declaration, USDA Acting Secretary Chuck Conner designated 73 primary counties and 15 contiguous counties, all of which are eligible for the same emergency relief in the form of low-interest loans. This designation resulted from Gov. Ted Strickland’s written request to former USDA Secretary Mike Johanns on Aug. 29.</p><p>
This federal designation makes farm operations in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility re-quirements are met. FSA will consider each application on its own merit by taking into account the extent of the losses, security available and payment ability.</p><p>
Those farms affected by the drought and extreme heat conditions that began in mid-May have eight months from the approved date of the Secretary’s declaration to apply for emergency loans. Farmers wanting to apply should contact their local FSA service center.</p><p>
Summer drought conditions also led to fire restrictions across Ohio in October and November, requiring all outdoor burning to be done between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in an effort to minimize the risk of fires getting out of control.</p><p>
Some areas of the state, such as Noble and Miami counties, have even had reports of damage to building foundations, caused by the dry conditions and resulting shrinkage of clay soil.</p><p>
Rory Lewandowski, and Ohio State University extension educator for agricultural and natural resources, told the Athens News last month that some farmers in the Athens County area were able to make only one cutting of hay, compared to the normal two to three cuttings per year. Some farmers in the area ended up grazing their hayfields with livestock because pastures were just not growing.</p><p>
Such hay shortages not only made for a rough summer, but are also expected to make for a rough winter for livestock and livestock owners alike as hay prices continue to escalate.</p><p>
Earlier this fall the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservations Service (NRCS) also made funds available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to farmers who relied on “sacrifice pasture lots” during the unusually dry summer as a means to protect the majority of their pastures from damage. Such sacrifice lots are extremely susceptible to soil erosion from overgrazing.</p><p>
EQIP provides farmers with incentive payments and technical assistance for conservation activities that help limit soil erosion, improve water and air quality and protect wildlife habitat.</p><p>
Proving that summer drought can have long-lasting impact, the holiday season is also being affected by the summer drought. Southwest Ohio Christmas tree growers were hit hard by the summer’s heat and drought, meaning a smaller selection of trees for the holiday.</p><p>
One such grower, Carl Halen of Hamilton, has been growing trees since 1964 but is not open for business this holiday season because of the damage to his Norway and blue spruces. Similarly, Harold Rash of West Chester Township is also not open for business this year after losing a quarter of the pine trees on his farm.</p><p>
But Ohio farmers are not alone. This year the USDA has issued drought disaster declarations for a multitude of states, from Florida to Hawaii and states like Illinois and Tennessee in between.