Recent rainfall has blessed area farmers with a break from irrigation
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The recent rains are a blessing when it comes to farming. The benefits may seem obvious, but the recent rains can translate into millions of dollars.
This week's rain is especially sweet for Wheat farmers.
"Very timely for it, it's starting to grow, the next 3 weeks it's going to be knee high or better beginning to head out and make grain. This was a perfect rain for it. Good soaking rain to boot, these rains literally mean millions of dollars to the wheat crop in the Texas Panhandle," said Brent Bean, Extension Agronomist for the Texas Panhandle.
Another benefit for farmers is a much deserved break from irrigation. Typically, farmers have to irrigate to get their wheat and corn crops going. A break from irrigation means farmers can save thousands of dollars.
"Anytime you get a rain it saves on irrigation costs, particularly for the corn farmer. Most of our corn is 100% irrigated, and so anytime we get a rain, that's just one less inch of water that's going to have to be pumped out of the Ogallala and put on that field at a cost," said Bean.
The rain soaked fields may have temporarily postponed the plating of corn, but the delay should not hurt yields.
