By Blake Jackson
Farmers in the Midwest are celebrating after a month of heavy snowfall brought much-needed moisture to their drought-stricken crops. The region has been in a moderate drought for several years, and farmers have been struggling to make ends meet.
"Last year, we were about 5 to 7 inches short on rainfall," said Tim Gach, a farmer in Buchanan County, Missouri. "We had a couple of weeks where we didn't get any rain and it got kind of hot and dry, corn started to stress. Eventually, we got rain and had decent yields on our crops, but the moisture didn't last long.
Gach said that the snow is an even better benefit than rain for crops. "When the moisture is in the form of snow, it sits there and is absorbed into the ground as opposed to it all running off," he said. "So, while this looks like a lot of snow, it may not be a lot of water, but it will sit there and be absorbed into the ground as opposed to it all running off, which is definitely going to help soil moisture content going into the spring."
The snow has also had a positive impact on livestock. "Cattle this time of year require a lot of energy to stay warm, but they do even in the outdoor elements like this," Gach said.
However, Gach said that farmers still face challenges, such as protecting their livestock from the cold and wet weather. And, if the region doesn't see more moisture in the coming months, the drought could worsen.
"We're in an El Nino situation right now, which I always kind of thought meant that we would probably see a little bit more moisture than in a La Nina year," Gach said. "Either way, we were still partially in a drought monitor as of about two months ago, just in this area. So, hopefully the moisture continues to come, and we can ease that because while it can be wet on top, if it's still dry underneath, that can be problematic later in a season where you don't get much rain.
The heavy snowfall is a welcome sign for farmers in the Midwest, and they are hoping that it will help to alleviate the drought conditions. However, they know that they still have a long way to go, and they are urging people to conserve water whenever possible.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vadven
Categories: Missouri, Weather