The Emergency Drought Committee met last Monday and voted to approve a new program aimed to provide emergency drought assistance to Oklahoma producers.

The application period opens Nov. 12 and runs through Jan. 31, 2025.

The application will be available at local conservation districts and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission webpage beginning Nov. 12.

Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus attended Monday’s meeting and provided a drought forecast.

“This is the most drought we have seen (in Oklahoma) since February 2023,” McManus said. “We have 79 percent of the state in drought right now and nearly 35 percent of that is extreme drought.”

McManus added that this is the driest October on record in Oklahoma history. (Ed. note: While true at the time of the meeting, the Oct. 30 rains moved it to the 11th driest October since 1895.) The statewide average rainfall total for the month was 0.09 inches at the time of the meeting and .84 inches after the Wednesday rains, which was still 2.52 inches below normal.

Producers are eligible to apply for the new program when the total area in D1 drought in their county reaches 25 percent as reported by the National Drought Monitor.

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission will distribute a list of eligible counties to conservation districts each Thursday at 9 a.m.

Eligible producers may apply for the following practices: pipeline, heavy use protection area, water well, pumping plant, watering facility, pasture tap, and pond cleanout.

State Sen. Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher) was among those at the meeting.

“As drought conditions persist across the state and region, the Emergency Drought Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure Oklahoma farmers and ranchers will see relief as soon as possible,” Jech said.

“I extend my appreciation to the committee for their desire to efficiently distribute these funds and provide critical support to recover from the significant losses and damages caused by the devastating drought and wildfires.

“I encourage those eligible to contact the Conservation Commission or your local conservation district office for more information on these programs. These relief efforts are critical as we recover from the current drought and improve our infrastructure to mitigate the effects of the droughts we will inevitably see in the future.”

The Emergency Drought Committee previously met in March and set a deadline of June 30 to complete pond cleanout projects.

Those applicants who did not complete their pond cleanout projects by June 30 now receive priority in this new program.

Applicants have from Nov. 1-15 to alert their local conservation district if they wish to cancel their application, completed their pond cleanout after June 30, or will complete their pond cleanout.

All work regarding priority pond cleanout projects must be completed by Feb. 28, 2025. All other practices must be completed by July 31, 2025.

To find your local Conservation District Office, visit conservation.ok.gov/ conservation- district- directory/.