Licking Today

State Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) has announced that a report from the National Drought Mitigation Center indicates additional areas of Ohio, including the entire 69th House District—Fairfield, Licking, and Perry counties—are facing severe drought conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor's map highlights parts of the country experiencing various levels of drought. These classifications range from abnormally dry (D0) to exceptional drought (D4). The entire 69th House District falls into the D3 category or higher, making these areas eligible for assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA).

“The lack of rain has continued to have a growing effect on all parts of Ohio,” said Miller. “Now is the time to support our dedicated farmers who are experiencing hardships and urge them to document issues and report them to their local FSA.”

When a county reaches level D3 or above, residents become eligible for federal assistance programs. A comprehensive list of resources, including USDA disaster assistance programs, is available at https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/administration/resources/2024-Ohio-Drought.

“I encourage everyone within the local agricultural community to take the time to review the resources available and share the information with others,” Miller continued.

Representative Miller will continue providing updates and resources as conditions develop.