CFAES experts know the challenges Ohio growers and producers face due to a variety of reasons. A Rapid Response Team was created to quickly address current events and offer the best science-based recommendations to protect livestock, crops, and farm operations due to weather impacts, tariffs, commodity prices, and extreme events.
Note: The U.S. Drought Monitor only includes precipitation for the week through 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Update: November 21, 2024: As snowflakes fall across portions of the state today, our wetter weather continues. This shift in the pattern has brought drought relief to significant areas of the state, especially across central and southern Ohio. Soil moisture recharge continues its slow improvement, and rivers are starting to respond. It appears fall wheat emergence has been strong, and pastures have shown some regrowth as well. All signs are pointing in the right direction for continued easing and removal of drought in Ohio over the next several weeks.
For information on FSA programs for drought relief, including additional counties now eligible for relief in northwest Ohio, see the Farm Office Blog. Please continue submitting Condition Monitoring Observer Reports to help us keep track of drought impacts. We really appreciate all the submissions. For more information, including impacts for non-agricultural related interests, please visit the State Climate Office’s Drought page.
Observed Weather Summary
- Temperatures were 2-10°F above normal for the week ending November 21, 2024.
- Precipitation ranged from less than 0.3 inches in Ashtabula County to nearly 3 inches in the Cincinnati area.
- Precipitation over the last 90 days across much of Ohio is running 25-75% of normal, with far southern counties (e.g., Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto, Pike, and Highland) now running above average.
- Precipitation deficits of 3-9 inches are common across Ohio over the last 6 months, with counties in southeast Ohio showing deficits of 12+ inches.
On-going Impacts
- Pasture conditions reporting have concluded for the season, but pasture regrowth has been slow this fall.
- Producers are still feeding winter stocks and making alternative plans for the upcoming winter season.
- Hauling water for operations has eased in some areas but is ongoing in the driest locations in southeast Ohio.
- Corn and soybean harvest is nearing completion.
- Soil moisture profiles and stream flows remain low but are slowly improving.
- Fire risk is diminishing.
- Daily open burn ban (6am-6pm) continues through November.
Drought Monitor
- Additional widespread improvements are evident on the U.S. Drought Monitor for the second week in a row.
- D4-Exceptional Drought dropped slightly to just under 5%.
- D2-Severe Drought conditions or worse have decreased from 49% last week to 35% this week.
- Approximately 79% of the state remains at least abnormally dry.
Current Outlooks
- Cold conditions are in place, with highs steady in the 30s on Thursday, then low to mid 40s for Friday and Saturday.
- A couple of waves of light snow will move through the region through Friday morning, with light accumulation especially in western and southwestern Ohio. Snow will mix and change to rain on Friday.
- The weekend looks dry, with high temperatures returning to the low to mid 50s for Sunday and Monday.
- Monday will bring another round of showers then falling temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday, back into the 40s for highs and 20s/30s for lows.
- Right now, rain is possible again by Thanksgiving with cooler than normal temperatures expected.
- The current forecast calls for 0.1-0.25 inches for northwest counties and up to 1.25 inches possible for southern Ohio over the next 7 days.
- After a brief warm up following Thanksgiving, the Climate Prediction Center indicates there is another pattern shift toward much colder conditions for November 28 – December 4.
Updates provided by:
Aaron Wilson, Ag Weather and Climate Field Specialist
Stephanie Karhoff, Agronomic Systems Field Specialist
Jason Hartschuh, Dairy Management and Precision Livestock Field Specialist
David Marrison, Farm Management Field Specialist
Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle and Livestock Marketing Field Specialist
Logan Minter, Specialty Crops Field Specialist
Jim Downs, Forestry Field Specialist
Vinayak Shedekar, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Water
Jeff Hattey, Professor of Soil Management
Chris Zoller, Interim Assistant Director, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources
Rob Hamilton, DSWC Program Manager, Div of Soil and Water Conservation, Ohio Department of Agriculture
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For more drought data, visit drought.gov.
Drought conditions started in Ohio back in mid-June and have intensified all summer. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report on August 27, 2024, D4-exceptional drought was introduced to Ohio (Meigs and Athens Counties) for the first time since the U.S. Drought Monitor’s inception in 2000. On September 5, D4 increased to 7.35% of the state, while other categories of drought (D1-D3) significantly expanded. It is important to remember that D4 conditions only occur once every 50 to 100 years. Read more.
With an estimated 2.7 million Ohioans currently living with drought conditions, times are not easy. We often forget to check in on our mental health though during this time of high stress and anxiety. While many people can cope with the everyday stress of farming, it is important to know it is okay to not be okay. Especially with these types of weather extremes, it can be difficult for any farmer.
- Hurricane Helene's effect on soybean in Ohio
- Manure application to parched soil
- Drought, an early harvest, and fall herbicide applications
- Dry conditions in corn - implications and recommendations
- Forage nitrate toxicity a major concern as drought worsens
- Debby surprises but drought intensifies across southeast
- Worsening drought conditions in southern Ohio
- Weather extremes abound
- Weed management in hot, dry conditions
- Wheat harvest and double crop considerations for 2024
- New ANR fact sheet summarizing corn response to long-term weather patterns
- Beating the heat on farms
Drainage
Managing Controlled Drainage Structures in Spring and Fall
Drought and Drainage
Video: Battle for the Belt
Video: Corn Response to Drought
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has an Ohio Hay Directory for producers trying to sell or buy hay during the drought. If you have hay to sell, add your information here.
Once the directory is created, you'll find it on the 2024 Ohio Drought Resources page.
Ohio State University Extension BEEF Team
Winter Feeding Options for Beef Cows - program schedule in October 2024
- Addressing Feed & Forage Shortages
- Manure Application to Parched Soil
- Ohio Beef Cattle Letter
- Feeding Storm-Damaged Soybean Grain to Cattle
- Drought 2024: Winter Feeding Options for Beef Cows
- Drought to Frost: Feeding Safe Forages
- "Fog Fever" a Fall Pasture Problem
- Making Decisions During Drought
- Using Drought Stressed Soybeans For Hay or Silage
- Managing Forage to Finish 2024
- The Summer Grazing Plan
- Managing Heat Stress in Beef Animals
- Considerations for Pasture Risk Management Decisions
- Pasture Management Strategies During Dry Conditions
- Drought Management (Ohio Beef Cattle Letter archives)
- Mow Pastures or Not
- OSU Extension BEEF Team videos
Agricultural operations in Ohio have been significantly impacted by recent drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has programs available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA FSA Service Center to report their losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.
- Worksheet to Prepare for Your First Visit with USDA
- Establishing a Customer Record and Farm Record
- CRP Haying and Grazing
- Disaster Assistance At A Glance
- Disaster Assistance: ELAP - Livestock Assistance
- Disaster Assistance: Emergency Disaster Designation and Declaration Process
- Disaster Assistance: Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
- Disaster Assistance: Emergency Loan Program
- Disaster Assistance: LFP - Livestock Forage Disaster Program
- Disaster Assistance: Livestock Indemnity Program
- Disaster Assistance: Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
- Disaster Assistance: Tree Assistance Program
- Disaster Assistance: What is the U.S. Drought Monitor?
Turf Team Times - also available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify
