COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture recognized 10 Soil and Water Conservation Districts on Wednesday for their leadership in delivering drought relief to livestock producers following the 2024 growing season.
The awards were presented by ODA Director Brian Baldridge during the 2026 Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Partnership Meeting in Columbus. According to the department, each of the honored districts achieved 100% participation in the Ohio Department of Agriculture Drought Assistance Program, ensuring every eligible livestock producer in their county received relief.
The recognized districts are Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Meigs, Morgan, Pickaway, Vinton, and Washington counties.
“During an extremely difficult growing season in 2024, these 10 districts ensured that no producer was left behind,” Baldridge said in a statement. “Ohio agriculture is resilient because of collaboration and partnerships like these at the local level.”
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 28 Ohio counties as primary natural disaster areas between Aug. 19 and Sept. 16 due to drought conditions.
Senate Bill 54, signed into law in December 2024, allocated state funding to provide relief to livestock producers facing persistent drought conditions. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts administered the program, helping deliver assistance to more than 4,300 producers statewide, according to ODA.
The department said the remaining 18 districts that participated in the drought assistance program each achieved 80% or higher participation rates in their counties and received certificates recognizing their efforts.
Those districts include Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Licking, Monroe, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, and Tuscarawas counties.