Somerset communities issue water conservation guidelines; farmers feeling heat of drought

Dry conditions through June and July have caught up with Somerset County as more municipalities have issued water conservation guidelines and farmers expect a bleak year of production.

On Thursday, the National Integrated Drought Information System reported that 77,715 people in Somerset County are affected by drought, which is an increase of 100% since last month. NIDIS said Somerset County experienced the 11th driest June on record for the past 130 years.

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NIDIS shows the northernmost part of Somerset County is listed in the Moderate Drought zone, which is the first of four drought categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The rest of the county is listed in a Severe Drought zone, the second of four drought categories.

The water conservation guidelines issued by municipalities say these uses of water will be prohibited until further notice:

• Watering lawns, gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs and outdoor plants
• Watering golf courses without a valid Drought Emergency Operations Plan
• Washing paved surfaces such as streets, sidewalks, driveways, garages, parking areas, tennis courts and patios
• Operating water fountains, artificial waterfalls and reflecting pools
• Washing vehicles
• Serving water in eating places unless specifically requested by the individual
• Filling and and topping off swimming pools

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Agriculture hurting

County farmers are struggling to keep their businesses productive during the dry conditions. NIDIS estimated that Somerset County has in drought: 40,608 acres of hay; 23,062 acres of corn; 22,686 acres of haylage; 21,926 many cattle; and 5,308 hogs.

Derek Hillegas, who farms east of Berlin, is a dairy farmer and grows forage for the cattle.

"We anticipate a 50% decrease in corn silage yield. The grass yield will be 75% of normal yields. That means we have to buy more feed for the cattle, buy products like soybean oil which raises feed costs for the cattle," he said. "From the dairy farmers' perspective, it will take two to three years to recover in forage quantity for the cattle. Our excess forage from the past few years of good crop production will be used up because of this year's drought."

Hillegas said milk production has decreased by two to three pounds of milk a day.

"The wells are being stressed to the limit. We're to the point now that we need days and days of rain to get back to where we were the first of June," he said. "As long as we continue to get rain, we'll get 50% of our crop."

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Megan Hostetler who owns a dairy farm near Jerome and raises corn, soybeans and hay, said Tuesday's and Wednesday's brief rain showers were the first substantial rain received in a month.

"We're in need of a good amount of rain. Our neighbor pastures for beef and they're running out of grass," she said. "Our dairy cattle don't rely on the pasture. But it's hot. We're making sure the barn is well-ventilated. We're keeping the cows comfortable to keep from getting heat stress. They can get heat stress when the temperature goes above 55 degrees."

Hostetler said the business has had a drop in production because of the heat.

"The first cutting of hay was good. The second cutting is slow in coming. It needs the rain," she said. "Sweet corn will be in tassel before field corn. The corn is not tassling yet. It was wet in May, so our crops were later in getting out. If we do get rain, it's still salvageable."

Hostetler said she thinks sweet corn may be affected by the drought, and soybeans are not yet in blossom. She said farmers can look at alternatives if corn is lost, such as planting sorghum (a major source of grain and of feed for livestock) or solandra if in dire situations. But Hostetler said they provide as much energy for the cows.

Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. She was the Home and Family editor for 20 years, and was the primary editor and reporter for a variety of special projects, features and tabs. Contact the Daily American reporters at news@dailyamerican.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset communities issue water conservation guidelines; farmers feeling heat of drought