Retrospect: Drought hurt farmers, stores

Thirty years ago this week, a drought was affecting local farmers and grocery stores in Portland. 

The Commercial Review reported on July 9, 1988, that an area-wide drought was impacting businesses. Sodders Halfway Market in Redkey had closed until Aug. 1, Brown’s Market in Portland only had tomatoes to sell and Jutte’s Market in Fort Recovery had scant quantities of apples peaches, potatoes and tomatoes. 

Farmers were constantly irrigating, trying to save their crops from the heat. 

Leo Eads, a produce manager at Ludwig’s in Portland, said county residents would soon begin to feel the effects of the drought when shopping. 

“The (overall) price increase won’t really be felt for a few months or so, but it will be felt,” Eads said.

He cited a price increase of corn imported from the south — in 1987, five ears of corn cost 99 cents. In 1988, that cost rose to $1.79.

The Jay County Farmers Market had not yet opened for the season because area farmers had nothing to sell. 

The farm equipment businesses were struggling as well. R.L. Stauffer told The CR it had sold only one piece of equipment in the past month. Bryant Equipment estimated more than half of its business had been lost. 

However, the drought did help out other local businesses. Vance Heating and Cooling had its sales and service business increase by 70 percent. Garden hoses, fans and summer clothes were in high demand at Danner’s 3-D, which had to send out trucks every day to keep shelves stocked.