By Emma Engle for The Inter-Mountain
ELKINS, W.Va. — Across West Virginia, a significant drought has affected wildlife and agriculture since March of this year. Central West Virginia has been especially affected by this, and the effects have been devastating for those who rely on agricultural output to make a living.
However, the outlook for the future is positive with oncoming cool temperatures and increased rainfall, officials said.
During the summer, Randolph County was classified by the National Integrated Drought Information System as experiencing extreme and exceptional drought. During October, the county was moved to the severe drought category, one class less than extreme. Other counties are still experiencing exceptional drought, though the area covered for exceptional drought is much smaller than in the summer months.
Jody Carpenter, a local West Virginia University agriculture extension agent, expressed concern regarding agricultural output for this season.
“The extended drought period has affected irrigation water for livestock and food production,” Carpenter told The Inter-Mountain. “In Barbour County, I’ve had some farmers with toxic algal blooms, that can be fatal for livestock, forcing them to pull those animals out. It’s a waiting game and there’s not much we can do other than removing them from that area.”
