Winter Drought
LAMAR, MO.--- Barton County farmers say winter wheat is looking good right now, but it could take a bad turn if we don't get any snow fall. Wheat needs a couple of inches of snow to function as a blanket to protect the plant from dying.
Also, farmers are seeing a lot of dry soil and hope to get several inches of steady rain in early spring for their corn crops to produce a good yield. Dozens of crop farmers in Vernon and Barton counties are buying irrigation systems just in case there's another rainfall shortage.
"People are preparing for another dry system and of course we hope for the best and we have to plan for the worst," states Larry Compton, Farmer and Irrigation Specialist.
Last year,Compton's company has been selling about 10 irrigation systems a month. That's compared to
10 in a whole year in 2010 and 2011. Compton says his irrigation system saved his corn crop from last year's drought by yielding 50 more bushels an acre than what other farmers saw.
Also, farmers are seeing a lot of dry soil and hope to get several inches of steady rain in early spring for their corn crops to produce a good yield. Dozens of crop farmers in Vernon and Barton counties are buying irrigation systems just in case there's another rainfall shortage.
"People are preparing for another dry system and of course we hope for the best and we have to plan for the worst," states Larry Compton, Farmer and Irrigation Specialist.
Last year,Compton's company has been selling about 10 irrigation systems a month. That's compared to
10 in a whole year in 2010 and 2011. Compton says his irrigation system saved his corn crop from last year's drought by yielding 50 more bushels an acre than what other farmers saw.
