The Oklahoma Drought Commission met today, hearing updates on current drought relief efforts and bracing for potentially worsening conditions. Farm Director KC Sheperd was on hand to visit with Trey Lam of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission after the meeting as he provided insights into the state’s financial commitments and future strategies.
Lam detailed the completion of the “Emergency Drought Program Two,” revealing that $33 million had been allocated for conservation practices across the state. “So far, we have spent $33 million for conservation practices all across the state of Oklahoma,” Lam stated, noting the regional variations in needs: “more pond clean out in the eastern part of the state, more water wells, pipes, and pumps in the western part of the state.”
The current “Emergency Drought Program Three” has already distributed over $3 million and obligated an additional $17 million, totaling $21 million.
However, the commission received a sobering update from State Climatologist Gary McManus, who warned of persistent and expanding drought conditions. “It’s not like this drought is going away,” Lam acknowledged, prompting a focus on future preparedness. “I think it’s a wake-up call that we better be ready for the next drought, and we better be ready to have another drought program.”
Lam highlighted the proactive measures already taken: “A lot of the practices that we’ve done or put in place over these last two programs have been in anticipation of this. So where people have water wells now, where they have rural pasture taps and ponds that have caught water, especially in the eastern part of the state, they’re gonna have livestock water.”
In the meantime, the Oklahoma Drought Commission will be fulfilling practices for the applicants of the current program. Once the program is completed, invoices have been received, and producers have been paid, the Drought Commission will reassess and most likely open applications for another program.
Looking ahead, the commission is forming a working group to refine its drought response strategies. “We want to take comments from our committee members, from our staff, but also from producers and conservation districts that are dealing in the program and see if there’s any changes that need to be made,” Lam explained. The group will explore potential adjustments to program triggers and drought level assessments.
Lam anticipates the commission will reconvene in the coming months, particularly if conditions worsen. “I would say probably in April or early May,” he said, noting that the Secretary of Agriculture will ultimately determine the timing of future meetings. “Of course, the way that the committee is set up, the Secretary of Agriculture is the chairperson of the committee, and she will call the drought committee together when she sees it’s necessary.”
