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<br />~ <br /> <br />FOREWORD <br /> <br />The 1989 WKWH Program ended its 15th consecutive season on a high <br />note. Before the season began, there was nothing but gloom and <br />despair in the air. National newspapers headlined drought problems <br />for wheat growers in Western Kansas. Shortly after the 1989 WKWM <br />Program began on Hay 1st, rainfall returned to Southwestern and <br />Western Kansas, In fact, it returned in abundance! Some parts of the <br />target area looked like swamps much of the summer, Although the <br />relatively long, dry period continuing from the previous year was <br />responsible for a lower-than-average wheat harvest, the late abundance <br />of rain was able to keep a complete disaster from occurring. <br /> <br />Rainfall for the Hay August growing period was well above normal <br />for almost all of the WKWM target area. Precipitation amounts greater <br />than that received annually were recorded over a large area in those <br />same 4 months as well as amounts of double the growing season expected <br />rainfall. Operationally, this season was close to '.'normal" with 50) <br />days of hail suppression and rainfall stimulation seeding operations <br />compared to our long-term average of 49.5 days in the Hay - August <br />period. We believe our seeding efforts made a significant <br />contribution during the early part of the season when rainfall was <br />most needed, <br /> <br />With the increased rainfall in 1989 came the attendant increased <br />hail---the two generally occur hand-in-hand in the High Plains, Hail <br />claims ran about 15% above the long-term average numbers of claims <br />submitted within the target area. <br /> <br />This report summarizes the operational activities of the 1989 WKWM <br />Program season and updates previous summaries of interest. The report <br />presents no significant revelations Or results that haven't been <br />discussed in previous years. <br /> <br />J <br />