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PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) -With the lack of rainfall across the entire Mid-Ohio Valley, it will be important to keep an eye on crops as it can become difficult if they don’t receive water.

John Riggs, the director of Agriculture at WVU Parkersburg, describes why the drought could be crucial for the harvesting season.

“If you have plants that are water limited starting out, that’s only going to impact your yields further down the line,” said Riggs.

Riggs added that the Mid-Ohio Valley will need more than just one-day downpours from rain from the scattered storms, but it will rain for multiple days at a time.

“We need a couple of days of steady light rain that’s going to soak everything and be actually able to absorb into the soil, as opposed to just runoff,” Riggs added. For preventative steps, definitely deep watering and continuous watering is very much needed.

Riggs added that he would like to thank Hall Drilling, Jay-Bee Oil & Gas, and the partners at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture for supporting the Riverhawk Farm.