This "piece" was forwarded to me from a newspaper in southwest Nebraska. We are in need of rain but it is nothing compared to what these people are experiencing.
"No rain for weeks. The temps have hovered around the low 100's with
yesterday hitting 107 in the shade. A 20 to 30 MPH wind blows every day and
sometimes far into the night. The shade offers no relief from the scorching
temps and after 15 minutes in the heat you feel like a roast chicken!
The irrigation districts have begun cutting back on delivery of water to
farmers. "Because of last year's drought and short water season, the major
canals and ditches are drier than usual. This is causing severe water
losses in all districts". said an article in Sunday's paper. "In addition
to extreme seepage and evaporation, a late start on the irrigation season
allowed weeds to get a head start and now ditch riders and producers are
fighting them as well".
The crops are beginning to show the stress of heat, wind and low water
supplies. Some corn is turning brown and after a 2nd cutting of hay some
alfalfa fields will not see another drop of water as farmers use available
water for row crop. It is very difficult to watch the promise of spring
shrivel and die under the relentless summer sun.
We are again moving water in the middle of the night and exhaustion is
setting in. On the bright side, at least the moon is full and we can see
what we are doing. During the dark of the moon we rely on instinct and feel
more than anything else.
Wheat harvest has started in the valley and some farmers are finding, like
we have, that their wheat fields hold nothing but stalks and empty heads.
With yields running from 3 to 5 bushels per acre they have pulled their
combines from fields and eased them back into their winter quarters.
Our wheat disease report from the UNL has returned with a diagnosis of
'Cladosporium'. A secondary infection to the freeze it is not toxic to
cattle nor will it contaminate our fields. It does cause an off flavor so we
will need to grind the bales and mix the wheat with hay if we want to feed
it to our cattle.
Life goes on in here in the valley; water is set, hay is baled, meals are
eaten on the run and farm families deal with every set-back with a stoic
resolve, but I see a change from 2002. Last summer farmer's faces wore the
shell-shocked look of desperation and disbelief. This summer they wear the
weary look of resignation.
I don't which is worse."
Please pray for rain for those who need it.
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