PETERSBURG, W.Va. — Despite significant rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Debby last week, West Virginia’s eastern panhandle remained in drought status. WVU extension agent for Grant County Brad Smith said however, they’ll take whatever they can get at this point.

A rainbow seen along I-81 August 3rd after showers moved through. (Panhandle News Network)

“The rain certainly helped tremendously. It was scattered. I’ve heard reports of areas that got one inch to areas that got six to eight inches, so it varied tremendously,” said Smith in an appearance on MetroNews Talkline.

It’s been a rough couple of years for eastern panhandle farmers now in the throws of a second straight drought year. According to Smith the early corn at least produced a crop, but late corn never got a chance to germinate and never produced due to a lack of moisture. Soybeans are also well below yield and a second cutting of hay in the region is “non-existent.” Smith noted if they were to get a little more rain, farmers might get a small second cutting before the season is over.

“We went through two years of drought conditions, last summer and this summer. Those conditions are going to continue to have an effect on our farmers for many years into the future,” he said.

Gardens were impacted even when people tried to irrigate them.

“People that watered even saw yield decreases simply from the heat. Hopefully now with a little rain, they’ll produce a little more,” he said.

Governor Jim Justice has declared a state of emergency due to the drought conditions in all 55 West Virginia counties. The US Department of Agriculture is offering programs to farmers negatively impacted by the lack of rainfall through the Farm Service Agency and the Soil Conservation Service.

Story by WVMetroNews writer Chris Lawrence

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