The hazy, hot, humid and not to mention dry weather throughout the summer was not what area farmers in Athens County were hoping for.

In the beginning of August, Athens County, along with about 10 other counties in eastern and southeastern Ohio, was declared a disaster area by the United States Department of Agriculture because of little rainfall. The county remains on disaster status.

With the low amounts of rainfall, farmers' crop growth suffered as did feed for livestock. Boyd Allen, a rural Albany farmer, was affected by the summer drought.

"We're feeding hay that we wouldn't normally feed the cattle because the pastures aren't there. The corn didn't turn out like it should," he said. "It didn't grow like it should've because of the lack of moisture."

Allen and other farmers in the same situation might be eligible for aid from the state or federal governments.

"They're talking like they are going to (give aid), but we haven't seen any yet. Maybe later after the harvest," Allen said.

As for the areas the County Commission covers, County Clerk Joann Sikorski said the commissioners have not received any funds to be given to area farmers in need.

Some relief might be on the way if State Rep. Joseph Sulzer (D-Chillicothe) can encourage the House to pass the bill he is sponsoring. Specific amounts of aid farmers would receive will be discussed by legislators.

Matt Coy, legislative aid for Sulzer, said, "(The bill) allows farmers to take the taxes of this 1999 year, which are actually due in 2000, and defer payment until 2001 and have three years after 2001 to repay. The farmers aren't getting a tax break, it's a deferment."

The money farmers save from paying the taxes can be used to help get them back on their feet and recover any lost monies from the past summer. They will pay the money back without interest or penalties.

However, the money brought in by the farmers' taxes was used to fund local government agencies and schools, Coy said. The state government will dip into the "rainy day" fund, a fund made up of revenue with no specific purpose, to supply those offices that run on the monies from the taxes. The farmers will reimburse the "rainy day" fund, not the state.

The bill will be introduced, hopefully, to the Ohio House of Representatives this afternoon, Coy said.

Not all Athens County farmers are counting on aid. Willard Wagner, owner of Wagner Fruit Farm, said he is not concerned about receiving any aid.

"(The drought) affected us some, but not that much. We still had a good crop of peaches. We didn't have to apply for aid; we work it out ourselves. We don't plan on the government to carry us."