Extreme drought impacting orchards in the Miami Valley

DAYTON — The extreme drought in Ohio is impacting orchards in the Miami Valley.

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According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, water for human consumption is stable, but the water for plants is drying up.

“Now, you know, these plants are moving quicker into what they would normally do in that fall season when it’s time to pick harvest,” said Brian Baldridge, Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

“The apples hitting the ground instead of people coming out to pick them. We still have some apples for people to pick. But I would say if we don’t get any rain by Monday or Tuesday.. It may already be too late now,” Glenn Monnin, Monnin’s Fruit Farm.

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Monnin says his water supply is decreasing and he’s prepared to use his last line of defense against the drought.

“I do have another well and if I have to, I can transfer that water from that well over to that big white water tank. And that’s about a 15-gallon tank. Fill that up and then run the water into the drip line,” Monnin said.

September and October are prime times for apple and pumpkin picking, according to Monnin.

He won’t know of the financial impact until after the season.

We will continue updating this story.

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