Appalachian Ohio has been affected brutally by drought this year. Not just any drought, however, but “exceptional drought” for Guernsey, Noble and parts of some surrounding counties. Much of that region is represented by state Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, and he’s co-sponsored an effort to try to help farmers struggling to get by.

Along with state House Finance Committee Chairman Rep. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, Jones is pitching a $10 million appropriation to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, that would nearly double the amount of money available to soil and water districts.

Ashley Kasler, an organization director with the Ohio Farm Bureau in Southeast Ohio, tried to explain what this year’s weather has meant for Buckeye State farmers.

“We would normally start feeding hay in mid-November,” she told the Capital Journal. “Now we have been feeding hay since mid-June. Normally, for those needing to buy round bales, you would pay about $40 to $45 per round bale. It’s now close to $80 to $85. Think what your business would go through in six months if unexpected overhead costs popped up out of nowhere and the price doubled.”

It is understandable that some lawmakers wondered why Jones and Nelson aren’t asking for more. But if you are the kind of official who understands what farmers need, you also know it’s important to be ready for what might come next.

“I think we’re going to have to take a look at this again after the first (of the) year, because we don’t know what the winter is going to be like,” Jones said, according to the Capital Journal. “We have a budget coming up that we’re going to probably have to look at doing some more — this is just the first bite at the apple.”

Good. Lawmakers must not delay what can be done now — our farmers desperately need the help. And they must understand this isn’t a simple, one-time fix. When the time comes for that second bite of the apple, they must be prepared to again do right by Ohio farmers.