Silver lining for agriculture from drought of 2012?

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • May 20, 2013
  • 362
                        
Summary: Farmers who managed to survive the drought of summer 2012 may be able to find some small positive benefits from the stressful season, but most experts say that positive benefits were few and far between. Rory Lewandowski, Ohio State University Extension Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources, is hard pressed to come up with positive impacts resulting from the drought of 2012. “When pushed, I suppose I could say that during a drought we don’t see as much soil compaction in fields,” noted the Extension expert who serves Wayne and surrounding counties. “In grazing circles we sometimes say that no one can be considered a master grazier until they have managed their pastures, without overgrazing them, through a drought.” Extension educators throughout the state held informational sessions for farmers well into the fall of 2012 to assist them in adapting to the difficult grazing conditions. Farmers sought out substitute forages and feeds in order to stretch out their grazing resources. “I know that some farmers, because of the drought planted oats or winter wheat or winter rye into fields following an early corn silage harvest last year and had good results with the extra forage produced. Because of that experience some of them are planning to continue this practice,” added Lewandowski. “Last year the earlier planted corn fields seemed to bear the brunt of the drought as they pollinated during the worst period. Because of that experience, many farmers were more willing to wait for better planting conditions this spring (2013), planted later and maybe reduced possible compaction and/or seedling diseases that could result from entering a field with soil conditions that are too wet and cold.” Julie Gordon of the Tuscarawas County Soil and Water Conservation District noted that “the drought was very hard on the farmers we worked with.” She said that the main way any local farmers benefitted was that those who found themselves with enough hay to not only feed their animals but with extra to sell. “Hay prices were sky high, so that benefitted some farmers while causing others to have to dig deep to purchase what they needed. Input costs soared for them, and impacted their bottom line.” Grape growers did see some benefits, however, since growing conditions locally mimicked those of California’s famous Napa Valley grape growing region. “The drought turned out to be a good thing for grape growers and wine makers because of several factors,” said Duke Bichsel of Breitenbach Winery. “The drought conditions, combined with a lot of sun, really brought up the sugar content in the grapes. Also, it caused the vines to reach out and stretch their roots down deep to seek water. We want the roots to grow deep. Everything you get underneath will transpire to the canopy also.” Local peaches that managed to survive a late spring frost were also sweeter tasting than usual, but were in short supply. Lewandowski hopes that farming practices will change for the better from lessons learned in 2012. “It is also possible that the high forage costs due to the drought caused some farmers to value forage more and to take steps to reduce waste, practices that will continue,” he said. “Finally, any livestock that were not productive were probably culled instead of giving them another chance. Overall the damage and loss caused by the drought far, far, overshadows any kind of ‘silver lining’.”


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