A whole lot of this country has been needing a rain.  Some more than others.  Those of you from I-35 east in Oklahoma and a lot in the midwest truly do not know what dry is.  Sure, you’ve been drier than what you are used to but not like some of us. 

      And after driving down around Stephenville, TX this past weekend, I feel a bit guilty.  Those fields and pastures are flat burnt up.  Ponds are dry.  It is brutal.  Keep praying for the rest of the country that still needs a rain.

     Friday morning, we got about 1/2 an inch.  A couple of miles away, they got over 2″.  I was happy to get the 1/2 inch.  

     Saturday morning we got another 1.1″  And then Sunday morning it came down hard.  2.2″  The land is soaked and the ponds have water.  There is a GOD!

      In areas like NW OK that are commonly drought stricken, there is not a better hay crop than Hegari.  Once you get it sprouted, that stuff can hold on until moisture shows up.  I had some soil moisture when I planted it.  It sprouted good and has just been holding on.  It didn’t look good and it was definitely stressed.  The backsides of terraces were beginning to die off.  Yet, it has bounced back with the moisture.

     I normally plant a mixture of Hegari, Red Ripper cowpeas, German millet and collard greens.  And I let the crabgrass grow up with it.  This year, I took advice from “my” crop consultant–Brandon the Bruce.  I changed to a different variety of cowpea that has similar characteristics as Hegari.  He was right.  My collard greens have died off.  The German millet is dead in some place but the Hegari and peas will make some hay.  

      People, I have to head to summer conference.  Can’t WAIT!!  I hope that those in charge actually have something worthwhile.  Trust me, Oklahoma ag teachers have been in an informational drought when expecting something positive from our state department.  If this drought continues, this will be another waste of tax payers money as well as a waste of teachers time.  For the past several years  (think of Johnny Cash counting the year models of his “One Piece at a Time” Cadillac) since we had a conference that was more than an email.  I’m hoping it is worthwhile.  If not, Troy B and the DJ’s crew will have still have us a shrimp boil.  

Thank the Good LORD!  And have a blessed day.