| Although its hard to say exactly how much snow fell over
the weekend, everyone agrees the moisture from the storm was
welcome.
Rain followed by snow late Saturday and throughout Sunday
caused problems for travelers and canceled several events
throughout the Nebraska Panhandle and eastern Wyoming, but
farmers and ranchers were pleased with the final result.
The University of Wyoming Torrington Research and Extension
Center in Torrington registered one and a quarter inches of
moisture from the three days of precipitation. Reports of snow
amounts varied and were hard to measure because of the high
winds that accompanied the snow. Best guesses in the region
range from six to 12 inches.
Although the weather caught some farmers still planting
sugarbeets, for the most part, the planting is going well.
Jerry Darnell, senior agriculturist at Western Sugar in
Scottsbluff, said Monday afternoon that 40 percent of the 2001
crop is in the ground, and some fields have begun to
germinate. According to Darnell, the storm dumped about
one-half inch of rain and about eight inches of snow.
"It would be better if the beets were all
planted," said Darnell, "But the crop is in good
shape so far. The snowmelt wont cause a crust like a heavy
driving rain, so that wont be a problem."
Both Western Sugar and Holly Sugar in Torrington expect
farmers to be in the fields again by the end of the week.
"The storm has provided excellent soil moisture,"
said Rick Griffith, agriculture manager at Holly. "When
the temperatures come up later in the week, it will be
excellent growing conditions."
According to Griffith, Holly growers have about 25 percent
of the crop planted. He said this is a bit behind normal, but
the cool, wet spring has delayed field work.
Irrigated and dryland farmers will benefit from the
moisture according to personnel at the UW Research Center and
the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension
Center. Wayne Tatman, Goshen County Extension director, said
the hay is coming along real well, and David Baltensperger, UN
extension plant breeder, said there is some concern regarding
the crops that received hail earlier, but overall the moisture
will benefit all segments of agriculture in the region.
"From a dryland perspective, its pretty much all
good," he said.
"The soil moisture was in pretty good condition going
into this storm," said Dean Yonts, UN irrigation
specialist in Scottsbluff. "This will certainly top off
what was there already, and it wont hurt the alfalfa and
wheat."
However good the moisture is for this years growing
season, Yonts said farmers will have to use caution when its
time to return to the fields. "We dont want to get in
a rush. If they get back in the field too soon, theyll firm
the wet soil, and if the temperatures climb into the 80s,
that top layer will be baked."
"Other than that, this is just about ideal for
planting," Yonts said.
"The surface has been saturated for 48 hours or more,
and it will take a couple of days for the moisture to drain
down through the soil. Its just going to be excellent
conditions for planting and germinating the crop. The snow
melt and the warm temperatures will bring the plants right
through." |