Will it ever rain again??

The remains of Barry only dropped 0.12 of an inch here yesterday morning.

John, you may find an answer to your question here, and a regional roundup:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/MRX/ESFMRX

http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/pre...off01_prcp.gif

http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

All I can say is, I hope you have your hay for winter. If not, you are gonna be in trouble. There likely will be no fall hay crop where I live. NOAA and NWS were expecting us to move from extreme to exceptional drought this week if no rain falls, and none is forecast.

For my area, this is the driest spring on record...ever. It IS forecast to hit the low to mid-90s each day starting with Wednesday...

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenda...ink_undeclared

Woo-hoo, a 60% chance of rain Tuesday, June 12 -- well beyond the range of prediction accuracy. LOL. Used to be that 30% meant you'd get some, but no more. We had 30% Saturday and 40% Sunday. Got one brief (2 minute) shower from a passing cloud.

When you read that first NOAA release, you can see why even a good rain will not begin to overcome the hole we're in. Though a couple inches might help make an anemic fall hay crop possible. If we get no good soaking here by July 4, fall hay will be pretty much a moot point.

Most of the dryland corn crop is shot, beans are right on the brink and cotton is not far behind.

That's why I have been fencing new land like a madman. I have about 3 days of work to go on it and I can let them into it. Should be ready by Sunday, I hope. Not a moment too soon, either. I gotta say, the dry heat has been much better to do fence work in than the humidity. That's about the only benefit. It feels like Southwestern weather -- hot but tolerable because it's dry.

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Jim Steele
Sweetpea Farms
"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." -- Robert Gates

Jim, hay is in the barn, thank God and good people. Enough hay for this winter and maybe next. Times are beginning to look miserable for hayman, gardeners, and of course livestock owners. Luckily I have some un-fenced lowland that should stay green, long after the fenced pastures are burned up. My goats are so well trained I can herd them to the unfenced portions. But playing Shepard twice a day will get extremely old over time. When the leaves on the trees start to wilt, look out....Haven't gotten to that stage yet, but it may just be around the corner. Got a call from a fellow today looking for Boer Does, I think I may just sell a few....

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TOPSIDE FARMS

In my opinion, it is best to sell them now if you want to, John, cuz they can only go down in price as water gets scarcer.

That's exactly what I have been fencing, lowlands and swamp along a creek bottom. Eternally green, even when my higher pastures are browning. Fencing my creek water gaps, I am actually still standing on dirt that could be called mud. A hundred yards from there is brown hayfield.

I am not too positive about rain this year, unless we get 2-3 big hurricanes/tropical storms up in here for a few days each. There's still a low percentage chance of that. Pray for a wet winter.

Three more working days on fence, and I actually will have enough capacity to buy more goats should prices fall far enough.

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Jim Steele
Sweetpea Farms
"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." -- Robert Gates

We got a middle of the night shower here last night, John. One big isolated cloud. Just enough to dampen the dust and raise the humidity for today. Didn't even get wet under the trees. Such a tease! LOL.

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Jim Steele
Sweetpea Farms
"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." -- Robert Gates

I've simply got to say that I'm beginning to get a tad worried here on the Plateau. Others have luckily gotten rain, but here @ Topside 1, no joy. This drought is for real; no rain at all since the first week in April and the extended forecast looks dismal......Pray for rain.

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TOPSIDE FARMS

I am in the same area as you and it is DRY here...last time I remember it being this dry was in 1987-1988... It will pass we have had it before and it is just a 5-10-20 year drought....

Arina...I don't like Bush either but....

To say this is a global shift in climate is laughable... considering we only have detailed weather data for the last 100 years or less... I talked to my great grand daddy <97 years old> and he said the summer of 1934 was "WAY worse"

Global warming...I don't think so...
Al Gore is full of more horse manure than any Horse stable...

There was an old man in the feed store that said he couldn't remember it being this bad since 1935.But he thought 1925 was worse(He was real old).Told the guy who was talking to him that they made it through ,then the depression hit ,and he hoped he didn't live long enough to see another one of those. I wish I had a picture of him.Tall skinny with his straw cowboy hat,leathery tanned face,and his overalls on. I could just picture him plowing with a mule.

You know your in the middle of a sever drought when your losing voltage on your electrical fencing system. I have four ground rods pounded ten feet into the earth looking for moisture that just isn’t there. It hasn't rained in 60 days but today looks promising, cold front approaching from Missouri....BRING IT ON>

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TOPSIDE FARMS

We got a thunder storm yesterday. Nasty lightning and lots of wind but some much needed rain. In fact the ground is still a bit wet.Of course then today it will be hotter than hades and humid to boot.

Same here Chris, only a 1/4 inch but it's surely better than nothing...This thread is offically closed, Topside 1 received rain....

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TOPSIDE FARMS

Still EXTEMELY dry here in mid GA. Yesterday, got a sprinkle...still not enough to settle the dust...kids were kickin it up IN the rain! We REALLY need rain. Glad FL got some, though, they needed it more!

Rachael

When you LEAST want it to rain the rain will come a pourin down . So everyone maybe try harvest some hay or something. LOL.....on a more serious note though I hope it does rain for you over there topside1 and to everyone who needs it....HOPE YALL GET SOME SOON!

Come on people do that rain dance *does the rain dance*

Justine

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GoldenWood Farm - Breeding ADGA registered La Manchas and Grades
Website: www.goldenwoodfarm.com
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