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<br />of the County, absorb water at a moderate to slow rate and runoff causes ero- <br />sion during some storms. Planter loam, which occupies 19.3% of the County, <br />exhibits soil blowing and water erosion in cultivated areas. Plow pans form <br />in Planter loam if tilled when wet. <br /> <br />Climatic Factors <br /> <br />The High Plains geographic area, as described previously, is a major com- <br />ponent of the Great Plains province, stretching across the central U.S. in a <br />300 to 400 mil e wi de band just east of the Rocky Mounta i ns, and extendi ng <br />from Southwest Texas northward for over 900 miles into southern South Dakota. <br /> <br />Because of thi sextens i veness, the Regi on is characteri zed by cl imat i c <br />diversity and variability in temperature, precipitation, growing season, wind <br />patterns, evaporation rates and other factors. Extreme fluctuations in these <br />factors are also typical of the Region, and these periodic extremes often <br />prove more critical to the Region's agricultural enterprises than the average <br />or normal cl imatic conditions. <br /> <br />The Region is classified as semi-arid on the west (less than 20 inches <br />annual precipitation) gradually improving to sub-humid (20 to 30 inches per <br />year) along its eastern extent. Average annual precipitation varies from 14 <br />inches or less in eastern New Mexico to more than 26 inches in eastern <br />Nebraska. Extremes in precipitation vary from sometimes extended periods of <br />drought, when several years in succession of less than 50 percent of average <br />precipitation may occur, to occasional high intensity storms that may leave <br />6 to 10 inches of precipitation in a short period. <br /> <br />Maximum monthly mean precipitation tends to coincide with the growing <br />season for most Hi gh Pl a i ns crops. May through September are the most <br />favorable months, with the northern subregion showing an early pattern <br />(April, May, June) and the southern area a later pattern (June through <br />September). Mean annual snowfall of more than 30 inches in the northern part <br />of the Plains adds significantly to annual precipitation for that area. <br /> <br />1-8 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />