Farmers, Forests & Families Feeling the Strain
Dry fields, stressed crops, and heightened wildfire risks
September has brought one of the driest stretches Ohio has seen in decades. Nearly the entire state experienced drought conditions, with some counties slipping into the “extreme” category. August 2025 was already the driest on record, and the lack of rain is leaving its mark across farms, forests, and backyards.
Farmers are struggling with poor pastures, low pond levels, and stressed crops. The Ohio State University’s agricultural experts have reactivated drought-resource pages to help with water and forage management.
“Weather conditions over the past year have been nothing short of challenging for Ohio farm families. From a very wet spring that lasted nearly all of planting season to drought conditions in August and early September, farmers have not been able to catch a break. The rain and cooler temperatures we’ve had lately are welcome, and we hope they will be enough to carry us through a successful harvest,” said Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau.
With dry grasses and forests, the wildfire risk is also up. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) warned that “various areas in the state are seeing abnormally dry and moderate to severe drought conditions that can pose an elevated risk of wildfires.” Some rain is in the forecast, with hopes of a few inches falling before October. But state climate experts caution the drought could linger into winter unless wetter patterns return.
Ohio’s rivers, lakes, wetlands, and rainfall have always been central to the state’s identity and economy by sustaining farms, fueling industry, supporting recreation, and protecting public health. This drought is a reminder that water is not guaranteed; it is a resource that demands careful management and protection.
Programs like H2Ohio, wetland restoration projects, and watershed planning efforts are essential tools to build resilience. Expanding conservation practices on farmland, investing in modern water infrastructure, and strengthening drought planning at both the state and local level can help Ohio avoid the worst impacts when rain doesn’t come. Every drop of rainfall, every acre of wetlands, and every investment in water resilience strengthens Ohio’s ability to weather challenges like the one we face this fall.