‘Just pray for rain;’ Drought conditions causes concern for local farmers

CLARK COUNTY — As the drought conditions continue across the Miami Valley, farmers are seeing problems with their crops.

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As News Center 7 Reporter Mason Fletcher reported at 5:00, the drought could affect their crop yield this year, and may affect prices at the grocery store.

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Pendleton Farms is home to nearly 300 acres of crops, but the drought conditions are affecting the crop yield. One farmer said he expects about half of what he would get on a good year.

“Cost us more money because we raise produce, of course, and we had to irrigate,” said Scott Pendleton.

Pendleton is the owner of Pendleton Farms and says it’s the worst drought he’s seen since ‘88, and that his pockets are seeing the biggest impact. His biggest cost is water.

“We’re pumping over a half million gallons a day when we’re pumping,” Pendleton said.

That water is the only thing keeping Pendleton in business.

“If we didn’t do it, we wouldn’t have any corn,” he said.

News Center 7 reached out to the Ohio Farm Bureau to see how this would affect consumers. They said shoppers could see changes if the conditions continue to worsen.

“You’re going to probably see some initial price increases or supply issues.. but long term next summer to reharvest next year you will probably see a bigger spike,” said Matt Aultman, with the Ohio Farmers Bureau.

Pendleton is hoping for one thing to help his farm.

“Just pray for rain, because the thing is, we got to think about the crop next year,” he said.

Pendleton told me without his irrigation system he wouldn’t have been able to grow much, but even with him having it he’s still hoping for rain.

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