News

Rainfall improving conditions for wheat growers west of I-35

An ag meteorologist says an active weather pattern could bring some long overdue drought relief to parts of the U.S. wheat belt.

Matt Makens says regions west of Interstate 35 are improving. “We’re starting to see thunderstorms creeping into that region – in the panhandles and getting wetter. If the wheat is not in the ground, the planting window is getting narrower. Hopefully, it’s in the ground because the water on top of it is a good situation.”

And, east of I-35, he tells Brownfield, “That area you still have some time because the rain is still off to your west, but that will shift over the weeks ahead. It will start to getting gradually closer and closer to you’re region. If you’re worried about dusting it in, the water is going to becoming.”

Makens says while the rainfall is encouraging, it’s only a start and more moisture will be needed to get the crop off to a strong start this fall.