‘We need emergency funding’: West Virginia farmers request additional relief during drought

HURRICANE, WV (WOWK) — The sprinklers are running every night at the Wickline Farm in Hurricane, West Virginia. Jeanette Waller and her son Jeremy are just trying to salvage what they can in a Summer where the drought’s grip continues to grow tighter.

“The creeks are dry and we do have a pond, but our pond is also dry,” Jeanette says referring to the lack of water available on their property.

However, the drain isn’t just on their water sources.

“The water is not necessarily the expensive part. It’s the trucks, the fuel you’re using, the way everything is just going through the roof,” Jeremy says.

This one issue is causing a ripple effect. With little rainfall, the grass is not growing in their fields, taking food out of the mouths of their livestock.

“Everyone who has cattle is already feeding out hay that they wouldn’t normally start until winter… And if you want hay, you’re going to have to drive out of state no one’s got that extra money for the fuel, let alone the resources to be able to go get it,” Jeremy says.

Now, the Wallers say they are hoping the state can step in and help.

Governor Jim Justice already declared a state of emergency for farmers like the Wallers, but they fear it’s not enough.

“I think that there needs to be some sort of emergency funding of some sort for the farmers,” Jeanette says.

The Justice Administration released a statement saying “Our office is currently developing a reimbursement program to support agencies helping distribute water to farms and farmers in counties that are dealing with extreme drought conditions.”

However, this would only cover areas listed on the drought map as “severe.”

So, for those outside that area, including the Wallers’ farm, tough decisions could have to be made…

“We would have to sell cattle. I mean, that’s all there is to it because we don’t have the ability to keep them and put out all this money and not get any assistance back,” Jeanette says.

The Wallers say they’re hoping for some relief by way of rain and/or funding.

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