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:-1 I I I I I I I I I I I , FOREWORD Twenty-five seasons now have passed since the Western Kansas Weather Modification Program (WKWMP) began as the "Muddy Roads Program" in 1975. Initially, the WKWMP began attempting to protect its sponsors from hail and to increase rainfall using 3 planes and one radar system operating from inside a travel-trailer. The target area consisted of 12 full-size counties plus part of a 13th. Now, after 25 seasons, the WKWMP has two radar sites, each operating inside a building and 9-planes providing those same services to 13 counties in Western and Southwestern Kansas, plus 3 full counties and 6 partial county areas in Northwest Kansas. Also, in the target area are two smaller non-paying demonstration areas in the Eastern Colorado counties of Yuma and Cheyenne. . I I / I I I I I I Beginning in 1997, when NW Kansas Groundwater Management District #4 contracted the services of the WKWMP, it meant that up to 9 aircraft could be sent to seed a storm, or storm . sequence in NW Kansas. It was no great surprise to see that crop-hail damage claims in 1997 and 1998 had dropped smartly from previous years and that awaited reduction of crop-hail premiums in NW Kansas started becoming a reality as predicted in our 1998 Final Report. Two, or more, interrelated factors helped in this regard: (1) the dollar amount of crop-hail damage losses paid out by insurance companies decreased while the amount of premiums they received generally increased, doing so since 1995, with 1997 and 1998 showing the widest difference ever, in dollar terms, and (2) insurance companies were freed, able to set their own rates in 1999, allowing competition to drive rates down at a much faster rate than it would have otherwise. Hopefully, the reductions in crop-hail premium rates will continue sharply downward. The rate reduction story now unfolding should be a positive, significant economic effect directly benefitting the agricultural community in that area for at least the next few years, providing that crop-hail damages don't escalate again as it appears it may have done in 1999 if compared to the previous two seasons. Over the past 25 years insurance rates have dropped significantly inside the original WKWMP operational area, but least near the Colorado state line. In Western and Southwestern Kansas we expect to see the lowering rates trend continue in all areas the next few years as the benefit of having added three planes to the program in 1997 and a de-regulated insurance system. The WKWMP has come a long way in the past 25 years but, as with any science and technology-driven endeavor, it must continually look ahead, changing to meet the meteorological revelations advanced or the new technological advances developed that enhances our operational performance. Already, new seeding methods, improved seeding agents, advances in radar software and GPS telemetry of aircraft data are all on the horizon to bolster the future operational efforts should we desire. We're cautiously optimistic that when our near"term results are analyzed by the academic community, we will be able to receive fresh insights that will allow liS to continue pursuing WKWMP goals in Western Kansas on more firm ground throughout the first decade of the new millennium and beyond.