AMARILLO, TEXAS -- UPDATE:
One crop a lot of people have their eyes on is our area's winter wheat.
Current conditions are not too far from normal during this dry season, but not necessarily ideal either.
Spring officially starts around the end of march and moisture during this season is always a plus to producers.
"Right now our crop conditions are 46 percent of normal, compared to 55 percent last year. So, obviously we're not as good as we were last year, but we do still have time to save the crop -- we're not in a crop failure situation," said Steelee Fischbacher, Texas Wheat Producers Communications Director.
One local wheat producer tells us the benefits that moisture can play.
"Snow contains nitrogen and that's how mother nature always fertilizes our grasses and our wheat crop. Once you get that fertilizer into the soil then that's going to help those spring crops too," said Dale Artho, local wheat producer.
Fischbacher says a good spring crop goes a long way.
"The ag producers in this region contribute significantly to the economy of Amarillo and the local rural communities as well. So, if we're not seeing those producers reinvest their profits back into the community that's going to have an impact on Amarillo and the surrounding area."
Winter wheat crops are currently in a stage that producers call their dormancy period, and Artho says while fears of drought aren't too critical during this stage, beneficial snow can help predict a good crop in the spring.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED:
Very little rain mixed with the unusually warmer weather we've had this season equals a bad combination for winter wheat crops.
Winter wheat producers in eastern New Mexico's Roosevelt and Curry counties are hoping for moisture, -- if not, crops may fail.
According to the Clovis News Journal, Curry County Commissioner and wheat farmer Frank Blackburn say's out of his 60 year's in the county he's never seen such a dry season.
However, he also says there is still plenty of time to help recover.
We'll be checking in with the Texas Wheat Producers Association later this morning for an update to winter wheat crops in our area, and we'll keep you posted.
