Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

The lack of rain in May is already forcing Morgan County’s vegetable, fruit and farm crop growers to resort to irrigation and, without relief. it could reach “drought status” in another week, according to Mike Reeves, Morgan County agent coordinator.

“At this time of the year,” Reeves stated,  “when temperatures are in the 90s and dry winds are blowing, the soil dries out fast and a drought is considered to be only a week away.”

Reports on weather conditions in Morgan County show no measurable rainfall in May.

Neither were conditions favorable for rain for the next 10 days when monitored on Friday.

“Most commercial growers plan for this by using irrigation systems,” Reeves pointed out.  ”But when they have to purchase water from a utility company it’s an added cost of production.”

“Lack of moisture also adds stress to the root sytems of plants and makes them subject to certain diseases, such as powdery mildew.” he added.

Reeves said an extended dry season doesn’t usually occur until June but things could change quickly and we could have a wet month of June.

For “green thumb” gardeners, he recommended applying one inch of water to the root systems of plants once every week.

“It works best to water heavy once than to water lightly several times,” he pointed out. “The water needs to penetrate the ground below the outer reaches of the roots.

The dry season has helped cattlemen and hay growers harvest their crops without delay or damage due to excessive rain. It also offers winter wheat growers ideal conditions for their harvest. Continued dry weather could hurt them a little later on when they are trying to get a no-till soybean crop up and going.

Reeves said corn growers are suffering the worst from the dry weather.

“Corn planted early is always hurting for rain,” Reeves pointed out. Younger crops don’t require as much moisture and are doing better.

“A good rain now would do wonders for yards, gardens and farm crops and make all of us feel better, Reeves said.”