Drought

*I know we promised a post from Jared but he’s been tied up with some major planting issues so it will be a little while before we hear from him again!*

Drought. It’s a word I’ve heard my entire life but never understood until this year.

According to M-W.com drought is “a period of dryness especially when prolonged; specifically : one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth.”

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, we are in a D3 EXTREME drought.

As of today, we haven’t had significant rainfall since April. Average rainfall in May for our area is 4.5″. This year, we have had less than two-tenths of an inch. The crops don’t have enough water to germinate, the pasture is dying, natural habitats are suffering, fires are common… we desperately need rain.

So what’s a farmer to do?

Just keep on, keeping on.

Jared has been steady planting so that everything is ready and waiting for when the rains come. We’ve harvested oats and rolled the straw which we will use for cow feed throughout the drought. And we’ve been doing a lot of praying. Praying for rain, praying for healthy crops when they come up and praying for wisdom to know what to do if they don’t.

The worst part is always the waiting.