The drought monitor report as of Tuesday June 2shows some improvement with 34% of the state out of any dry conditions. Extreme drought is now down from13 to 4.3% and severe drought from 40 to 25%. Barton County moves from abnormally dry at the northern end to moderate to extreme drought as you move from north to severe drought south of the river. The recent precipitation isn’t included here. The six to ten day forecast (June 9 to 13) indicates a 60 to 70% chance of likely above normal for temperatures and 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation. The eight to fourteen-day forecast indicates (June 11 to 17) indicates a 40 to 50% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a 33 to 40% chance of leaning above normal for precipitation. While great for our summer crops, the recent wet weather had caused a delay in the wheat crop finishing and getting into the field.
Wheat harvest is waiting for drier conditions after a brutally dry late winter/early spring, and some are trying to plant their soybean and grain sorghum crops. While waiting, let’s visit something extremely important not only to agriculture but everyone. That something is the soil under your feet and what it tells you. Today, what exactly is soil?
Think of soil as a 3-D body on the landscape. While soil in its simplest form is defined by the sand, silt, and clay content, it’s so much more. A “soil” can also be considered as a living organism where flora and fauna interact with the each other; the mineral component and its chemical and structural composition; and the above ground environment. All these things work together and form an ecosystem which in turn affects what is happening above the soil and even the atmosphere. And all of this impacts all aspects of our lives directly and indirectly.