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<br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />L __ <br /> <br />The impact of the drought on our farm, and most around us, <br /> <br />is Major for the following reasons: <br /> <br />- The late June rains came too late for our short growing season. Short season <br />forage crops were planted or many fields not planted at all this year. These rains <br />were a significant help to dryland pastures that were looking grim. Rains came too <br />late for the dry land wheat crop, however, they may recharge soil moisture for <br />next year's crop. The rain provided some relief to alfalfa crop but the amount of <br />precipitation is still short of what will produce a decent cutting (approx. 6 inches). <br /> <br />- The rains did practically nothing to alleviate the hydrologic drought. Little water <br />was put in reservoirs in our area and did essentially nothing for the drastically <br />decreased water for irrigation wells. <br /> <br />- The supply of irrigation water was lengthened by reducing the requirement and <br />thus allOWing the irrigation water to be conserved for use later in the season. At <br />the current rate of usage, irrigation water is going to be short later in the summer <br />season. Further good rains could help with ttie extension of the irrigation water. <br /> <br />- It will take a good snowpack in the mountains to alleviate reservoir and irrigation <br />well storage. For agriculture, the hydrologic drought is still severe. <br /> <br />Email correspondence from Lew Grant, Grant Family Farms, 7/22/04, <br />Waverly, Colorado. <br />