Drought has negative impact on Oklahoma agriculture

Oklahoma is no stranger to hardship, and this year is no different as we are experiencing the worst drought in a decade. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, all 77 counties have drought conditions with most of them listed as extreme or exceptional, which are the worst categories. There was a period between June and July that the Oklahoma Mesonet reported as the driest in the last century, since the Dust Bowl in 1936.

Fortunately, we received some rain recently, but we are prayerful that more is on the way for the sake of our agriculture community and others who depend on the land. While I know many who are reading this come from an agricultural background, I know there are others who are not, so I want to explain the impact this drought is having on our state and economy. Agriculture is our third largest industry, with an overall economic impact of around $30 billion annually. 

The drought is drying up farm ponds and destroying grazing pastures and crops. To protect their livelihoods, farmers and ranchers are having to bring in water and use their winter hay supplies that do not usually have to be accessed until around November. Everything has a domino effect as these added expenses like the fuel used transporting water and food, having to buy more hay this winter, having significantly less crops and being forced to sell off their livestock is going to impact all Oklahomans at the grocery store. Those unfortunate expenses are passed on to the consumers. The drought also impacts our state economy when agriculturalists are unable to produce as much, lowering their tax contributions that support the state budget and the many state services that rely on those funds.

So, when we ask for our fellow Oklahomans to join us in praying for rain, it is not only for those growing crops, but also for all of us, for the economic health of our state. Agriculture is the heartbeat of our state. When it suffers, everyone suffers so please pray for rain and for our farmers and ranchers to have the strength and ability to get through this extremely trying time.

As a reminder, there is federal assistance available for those who have or are experiencing losses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved drought recovery assistance for 64 counties through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). Those who experience grazing losses requiring commercial livestock to be sold or disposed of can receive up to $125,000. Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, Stephens, and Tillman Counties are among those approved for these critical funds.

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program also aids with certain feed losses not covered by LFP. These include things like transporting feed, higher-than-normal costs associated with hauling water to livestock and moving them to other grazing areas.

The deadline to apply for these programs is Jan. 30, 2023 and you can learn more at www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/.     

Thank you again for the privilege of serving our district and the State of Oklahoma in the Senate. If I can be of any assistance, you can reach me at (405) 521-5563 or Chris.Kidd@oksenate.gov.