Commissioners declare drought emergency for county

NEW LEXINGTON — The Perry County Commissioners have declared a “drought emergency” for the county due to effects of a severe drought, which continues to affect the agriculture industry, economic health, and well being of the county and its residents. As of Sept. 10, Perry County was declared by the USDA to be one of 11 Ohio counties under a D4 Exceptional drought.

Agricultural livestock Impacts

• Farmers using their winter supply of feed for animals since June

• 90-100% of producers are feeding hay or other alternatives

• Farmers are weaning early, or selling cows

• water is having to be hauled due to livestock water sources being dried up

Agricultural crop impacts

• Include smaller fruit sizes and maturation sooner than normal

• -Extensive insect pressure on vegetables, this is also made worse due to the warm winter

• Fruit and nuts are dropping from their trees early

• Soybeans, and corn are drying down quickly without filling pods or reaching maturity — ncreases the risk of fall harvest fires (combine and field fires).

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODA) has set up several site visits and meetings with farmers, legislators, and local officials to discuss the effects of the drought. ODA is also working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help spread the word about emergency programs available, and formed working groups with Ohio Ema to help minimize impacts of the drought. These working groups include…

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Soil and Water Resources

• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) Division of Drinking and Ground Waters

• Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)

• Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA)

• Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal

• Ohio State University Extension

• State Climate Office of Ohio (SCOO)

• National Weather Services (NWS) (Wilmington)

• United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA)

• Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)

• United States Army Corps or Engineers

• Ohio Department of Health (ODH)

Farmers located in Perry County are eligible for USDA Emergency Drought Programs and should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency Office for more details, eligibility, and financial assistance available, to help manage losses due to the effects of drought conditions. Such programs include

• Emergency Loan Program

• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance

• Livestock Forage Disaster Program

• Livestock Assistance Program

• Tree Assistance Program

• Honeybee and Farm Raised Fish Assistance Programs

• Emergency Conservation Program

• CRP Haying and Grazing

More information on drought conditions and resources can be found on the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s website. https://agri.ohio.gov/home.

Holy Trinity has saved 2.2 million dollars for a new building project. This project includes building two new preschools due to the shortage of preschools in Perry County. These new preschools will be set up for three- and four-year olds, five days a week, and will offer latchkey programs. Bill Noll, principal at Holy Trinity, shared with the Perry County Commissioners the steps taken and ideas behind these plans. “Early Elementary Education is crucial,” he stated.

Holy Trinity has been in communication with all the superintendents as well as Job & Family Services in Perry County to gain support with local school systems. Plans have been drawn up, completed, and inspected. Next comes implementation. The goal is for the process to be started in November after everything is signed and to finish in May. This project will be a one-time investment funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) also known as the COVID-19 stimulus package, which helps deliver direct relief to the American People and rescue the economy.

Currently about 200 students attend Holy Trinity from 12 school districts and five counties. When asked why students will travel that far for a school system Noll stated, “We have religious diversity, but we show attention, we have small class sizes, and good relationships between parents, students and the school.”