Drought and Survival

[dogghr]

We certainly have received some good showers. I’m cautiously optimistic. Hopefully plots should recover but have never had them this dead looking. I would assume the clover is dormant and should respond.
An inch of rain typically would give moisture to a foot deep.
If I can get free I may throw some brassica seed. Would be the latest I’ve done that. Out of town next 2 wks so tomorrow is only window for that.
Grains and RC will be my option if plots don’t respond. I’ll post pics of how things go. As I’ve alluded there are some benefits to drought. I try to plan and accept for what nature chooses to do w animal , plants , or weather. But she can make you cringe sometimes.


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[Native Hunter]

We certainly have received some good showers. I’m cautiously optimistic. Hopefully plots should recover but have never had them this dead looking. I would assume the clover is dormant and should respond.
An inch of rain typically would give moisture to a foot deep.
If I can get free I may throw some brassica seed. Would be the latest I’ve done that. Out of town next 2 wks so tomorrow is only window for that.
Grains and RC will be my option if plots don’t respond. I’ll post pics of how things go. As I’ve alluded there are some benefits to drought. I try to plan and accept for what nature chooses to do w animal , plants , or weather. But she can make you cringe sometimes.


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Good luck, and I like the idea of doing some overseeding, even though I think your clover will bounce back.

 

[weekender21]

Let it rain!


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[dogghr]

^^^^^Yes but most of the precipitation is passing west of my farm. But have received some good showers according to radar. Take what I can get.
My house at the golf community where I live is at 3000', which has received heavy rains last few days. But the farm sits about 2500' and to the east of me within a few miles of the Eastern Continental Divide, and is surrounded by mountains in the 4000'+ range and they can suck the moisture from the air before it makes it to much of my county. Due to being on the lee side of the main WV mountain ranges, it tends to be in an area referred to as the Shale Barrens. Further within that area can actually be found cacti plants. So I'm used to dryer weather, but these last few months have been brutal. I am pretty sure with shorter days and cooler temps, AND moisture, my plots will rebound. I've certainly have it better than some on this forum.

 

[dogghr]

Looks like 1-2” rain at farm. 4” at my house. I’m a happy farmer at moment if occasional rains continue thru fall. Am on the road for couple weeks so will see if things are recovering then.
Best wishes for those still fighting dry weather.


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[Gator]

I planted some Durana clover right before I left for the Outer Banks. Thus far the house has gotten just over 5” of rain with some every day while I’m soaking up the beach sunshine!!


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[OkieKubota]

Well I probably just shot the rain chances here in the head because I planted my plot yesterday...

 

[dogghr]

I planted some Durana clover right before I left for the Outer Banks. Thus far the house has gotten just over 5” of rain with some every day while I’m soaking up the beach sunshine!!


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That’s prob what I should’ve done but time didn’t allow. Guess I’ll just enjoy the beach also. I’ll check on farm couple wks. Good luck w yours.


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[Gator]

That’s prob what I should’ve done but time didn’t allow. Guess I’ll just enjoy the beach also. I’ll check on farm couple wks. Good luck w yours.


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I hear ya on time. I meant to get mine sprayed or at least mowed and neither happened so that clover needs some luck!


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[Drycreek]

This is the first summer since I’ve been living here (25 years), that I haven’t ran the yard sprinklers all summer long. Also the first time that my pond has been lapping the spillway in August. We have had unprecedented rainfall this summer. The only thing wrong with that is my plots got so much rain in May that they drowned. First time in a long time I’ve had no spring plots.

 

[bearcat]

This is the first summer since I’ve been living here (25 years), that I haven’t ran the yard sprinklers all summer long. Also the first time that my pond has been lapping the spillway in August. We have had unprecedented rainfall this summer. The only thing wrong with that is my plots got so much rain in May that they drowned. First time in a long time I’ve had no spring plots.

It’s been a good summer for us down here. Not only have we had all the unexpected rainfall, but the temps have been pretty pleasant in terms of Texas summers. I’ll fix all that when I plant in a few weeks. Record heat wave and drought will sure follow!


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[Mennoniteman]

4"-5" of rain in most of SE and South Central PA yesterday. Our drought at the farm is over.
Clover plots look rough, corn about the same, beans hanging in there pretty good considering the 4 weeks with no rain

 

[OkieKubota]

Well I for sure screwed it up...my clover plot looked horrid but we got a little rain after having none for a month so I decided to till 1/2 of it up and plant it with very, very good chances of rain 2 days ago...yesterday and today were supposed to just be soakers with smaller shots tomorrow and then we go back into the upper 90’s again next week. Well the rain never came and the plots are planted so we will just see what happens I guess...hopefully turkeys don’t get all of the seed...

 

[KSQ2]

We’ve done better than you up here, but we missed these last rains as well. The brassica plot planted a week ago looked like it got a pretty good rain on radar Sunday. But the eye test didn’t look too good today.

 

[dogghr]

I’m out of town but radar and farmlogs showing showers passing thru farm today. Glad I do t have camera posting me pics or I would be too involved.
This year the NWS had my area a D2 or Severe drought classification. In 2018 or 17 it was a D4 or exceptional drought. To me this years has seemed worse with it timing.
I’m glad some got some soakers. And Hope same for others still needing.
I will say it pisses me off that every google of drought is tied in to mans cause of global warming. Just answer the question I ask Alexa!!


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[dogghr]

Despite having some showers the upper fields were literally crunchy to walk across. Signs of hope as some clover trying to come forth. It’s been very hot and even with rain soil is poor shape.
But there are things to learn. First be patient. With cooler weather and shorter days AND hopefully moisture pants should rebound. You can see it here trying.

And look close as clover growing well within a grass clump. Do you think one helps the other??

Because directly adjacent to the clump is this barren waste.

Also was surprised at the residual alfalfa left behind that tho spare , was a lush green even tho chicory and clover was gone for the most part.

And alas. Plan for feast or famine. This ravine plot shaded and retaining moisture to allow clover to thrive. Some years that are cool and exceptionally wet , this plot does poorly.

Rains should move in mid week and with a cool down I hope to have some ridge plots doing fair for hunting season.
No brassica planting except what May choose to self seed. Hopefully get some grains and RC down tomorrow before rain.
Do you think I’ll plant WW or WR?? Stay tuned.


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[KSQ2]

We have slight chance for rain tomorrow, the subsoil moisture is beginning to give out it appears, by the looks of the ditches and pastures. The beans don’t look to have grown much the last couple of weeks. There have been a few spot showers around, but they have been few and far between. No drought here fortunately, just typical end of august into September.

 

[dogghr]

Rains on there way so laid some seed down today on the only two truly ratation plots I do each year. Some thunder storms 2 days ago had given some ground moisture. Thatch lay on ground from mowing WW in June before drought occurred.
I spread RC at about 8#/Ac and heavy on WW @100#ac. Went heavier on each since plots were so burned from drought. And I want my farm to look like the golden fields of Catscratchs Kansas come next June.

Actually since there was good weed presence I wanted them smothered come spring. No fert added. Ph is 6.5. Shallow, dry, ridge top , south facing shale soil.

They have been done as dedicated brassica or grain mix rotations in the past but as you know I plant all together each year past 4 years.

Clovers have made rebound. No spray. Spread seed and mow again. And as you can see don’t need fancy equipment. I use Solo bag spreader and this 20 yo atv w a beat up pull behind. I’d like a new spreader but this thing won’t blow up and I’m a tight ass farmer.

After mowing.

And as said before. Have a variety of plots. Weather can be difficult some years and the shaded, wet plot may do poorly in monsoon. And other years the sunny dry plot May do poorly w hot dry weather.

In the distance is the once barren clover plot that now is becoming lush clover w some rain and cooler, shorter days.

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[Mennoniteman]

Rains on there way so laid some seed down today on the only two truly ratation plots I do each year. Some thunder storms 2 days ago had given some ground moisture. Thatch lay on ground from mowing WW in June before drought occurred.
I spread RC at about 8#/Ac and heavy on WW @100#ac. Went heavier on each since plots were so burned from drought. And I want my farm to look like the golden fields of Catscratchs Kansas come next June.

Actually since there was good weed presence I wanted them smothered come spring. No fert added. Ph is 6.5. Shallow, dry, ridge top , south facing shale soil.

They have been done as dedicated brassica or grain mix rotations in the past but as you know I plant all together each year past 4 years.

Clovers have made rebound. No spray. Spread seed and mow again. And as you can see don’t need fancy equipment. I use Solo bag spreader and this 20 yo atv w a beat up pull behind. I’d like a new spreader but this thing won’t blow up and I’m a tight ass farmer.

After mowing.

And as said before. Have a variety of plots. Weather can be difficult some years and the shaded, wet plot may do poorly in monsoon. And other years the sunny dry plot May do poorly w hot dry weather.

In the distance is the once barren clover plot that now is becoming lush clover w some rain and cooler, shorter days.

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Ida should get that seed germinating. As bad as your plots looked in early August it looks like a great turnaround and more on the way. It looks like you may have some nice hunting spots after all when the season rolls around.

 

[dogghr]

Patience.....My wife constantly reminds me how patient I am. Yea you know that not true. Type A personality has patience only when in complete control, of which weather does not bow to that thinking. Looks like I received an inch or so of steady rain with a few more showers probably today. Timing of planting couldn't be any better but certainly first year of not planting any brassica. Hopefully some self reseeding will give me those regardless. A wet spring, then no rain. Hard to plan with those conditions. So sorry my rains are the result of the devastation of the gulf coast. I would have gladly continued my flash drought to prevent that.