CHARLESTON -- The lack of significant rainfall so far this year forced state officials to declare a drought emergency in 42 of West Virginia’s 55 counties Thursday.

The declaration by Gov. Joe Manchin opens the door to possible federal funding help for state farmers, Agriculture Commissioner Gus R. Douglass said during a news conference.

The declaration will be forwarded to the United States Department of Agriculture, which will make assistance decisions based on available resources and the severity of conditions.

Agriculture producers of all types in the state have been adversely affected by the dry weather, Douglass said.

“We have to go back to 1939 to find a drier May than what we had this year,” he said. “My farm in Mason County is in the thick of all of this. June brought us no relief. Livestock is one of the hardest hit. Cattle are drinking water like it’s going out of style — and it is.”

Western counties appear to be hit the hardest, with most receiving less than an inch of rain in May, according to information from Douglass’ office. The average normally is 4 to 5 inches.

Because of the shortfall, farmers are being forced to haul water to their herds, Douglass said. That significantly increases costs because of fuel prices.

And the problems don’t end there. The first crop of hay this year was 20 to 50 percent short of the norm, Douglass said.

“Hay is in jeopardy,” Douglass said. “All indications are that there will be no second crop.”

Farmers already have started feeding their cattle winter hay, he said. With a second crop unlikely, they might be forced to sell early, which likely means farmers will receive lower prices for their cattle, he said.

As for consumers, they might see a short-term benefit with cheaper beef on the market this fall, Douglass said. But once that is gone, prices could skyrocket because of shortages.

And it’s not just commercial farmers being affected by the drought, Douglass said. Smaller gardeners who grow food for their personal use and those who sell at the state’s numerous farmers markets also have been hit hard.

“If you can find sweet corn, you’d better enjoy it,” he said.

The news for farmers isn’t as bad as it could have been, Douglass said.

“Since our last drought, we have started an insurance program,” he said. “Fortunately in West Virginia, the industry has been taking advantage of it.”

Douglass estimated that about 75 percent of the state’s fruit crop is covered by insurance.

Approximately 45 to 48 percent of the state’s grain crop has crop insurance, he said.

Counties included in the drought declaration are:

Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mingo, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood and Wyoming.