Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss The Drought

Up here where un-irrigated fields of corn saw yeilds in the 150-175 bushel/ac rate, this year they're predicting 50 bu/ac. Many are cutting their losses and chopping it into silage.

We're getting close to normal amounts of rain now, and the temps have really dropped - it was 48°F last night, and the past week has seen really, really heavy dew overnight. But it's too late for the moisture to do the crops any good now, all the kernels have been set.

If it keeps up, the Fall food plots should do O.K.

The rain that we've been getting hasn't been enough to replenish the ground water supply. Ground water pond water levels around here are still dropping daily.

esshup, I'll swap you 2" of rain for 20°.

Glad things are getting closer to normal for you.

Just need the rain to start falling 50 miles further to the west. Tired of seeing it raining just east of me

Esshup, my turnips are up, almost time for the buck forage oats. Our bow opener is right around the corner in mid september.

Matt:

I've had good luck with the Buck Forage Oats. I've also tried regular Oats from the grain elevator and the deer hit them just as hard. They seemed to last as long as the Buck Forage Oats too, although it was a mild winter. $12.00/bag (50#)

For some reason, the deer at my place won't touch Brassicas, no matter what time of year. I'm trying them at a different place, but the drought kept them from germinating. In a 120' x 120' area I had about 10 plants pop up. It's getting re-seeded in a week.

Our season starts Oct 1. I just bought my gun tags for Wi. on-line today.

Scott,

where do you hunt in Wisconsin? They dont touch my brassicas until late december, but then hammer it. I found 13 sheds one spring in a one acre brassicas plot.

Scott

A little more money but I have had better luck with winter rye grain then oats. Last longer into winter. I am going to plant 1.5 acres labor day weekend just hope we get some rain so they grow. Also going to try ground hog radishes, what the heck its only money.

Looking at the rest of the thread, maybe somebody besides me can finally benefit.

From the map, I'm in the area that is the same color as the Great Lakes! This is the first year I think I've ever seen ponds and streams above full pool/full bank in July and August.

With that said, I do believe that certain plantings can do very well for the fall, whether for deer, or as "green manure" for next year.

I've been growing annual(winter) rye as a cover crop for as long as I can remember. I've grown it in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Hawaii, Virginia, and West Virginia. It has never failed to produce a decent crop.

I've also grown a lot of turnips, mostly for the critters. The seed is extremely cheap -- thousands of seeds per dollar, and far more per bag than any humans would ever want to eat. The seeds germinate with just a little moisture. With just a little bit of nitrogen, they produce an incredible amount of green in the fall, early winter, and again in early spring.

The drought monitor map can be deceptive. We've had plenty of rain here and everything is lush and green now. However we are still considered under drought conditions. Why? Because were are still below our average cumulative rainfall for the year.

Matt and Lassig, I'm going to start another thread so I don't pollute this one.

Halleluiah! Looks like relief is on the way for us folks in OK, KS and NE.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Yes! Same here, we may get a quick shot of the tropical juice. Unfortunately I will be on vacation in the mountains of NY, so NOT a great place to get a tropical storm. Runoff can be rather exciting there. See Keene Valley from last year's storms. Went through there last fall and it was amazing to see the 10'+ piles of stones banked up along the creek edges like some monstrous bulldozer driver had too much fun. Even more amazing was the creek gorge from the high peaks that leads to Keene on boulders the size of houses rolled down the valley.

Got another seven tenths last night and this morning. That puts August at 4.05", and makes it the wettest month for us thus far in 2012. August, the wettest month?? We need much more, but we're thankful for what we've gotten. As usual, I hope other members of the PB forum have received some as well.

West, North, South and East of us received plenty of rain over the weekend, some locations appeared to get nearly 3". Here in Lincoln and at the farm over two days not even .5". Again, the system split for me, and dry, hot conditions are forecasted for the balance of the week. Can't catch a break.

About 5/8" here last night. Pond is still dropping even tho the well is going. Currently 36" below full pool and it's dropping around 1/4" or so per day even with the well going into the pond.

Local ponds without supplemental water are down between 6' and 8'.

Our place got .5" - .6" and we still have cracks in ground everywhere.

On the bright side that is 3 times as much rain as we have seen at our place in the last 60 days, humidty levels are back up so evaporation is not as bad as it was. We still need more rain.

According the TWC we only received .20". It was quite a system that just missed us again...almost seems intentional. I'd prefer a bone dry and hot forecast than the teasing of rain. It was nice to smell fresh rain laden air again, though. Brought back some nice memories, at least!

Managed 1.5" out of yesterday's storms. The most single rain event in over a year. Now we just need about 10 more like this over the next month. Maybe Issac will give us something over the weekend. Don't want to wish a hurricane on anyone or the side effects of tornadoes and flood, just really hurting for rain

I like the seemingly intentional stuff when the snow is supposed to be flying

Never thought I'd be interested in hurricane tracks but I wanted to mention a free android app for your smartphone called "HurricaneSoftware.com". Really sets your mouth to watering if you're lucky enough to be in the inland track of Isaac. I'm south of St Louis and we're projected to get between 2"-5" out of this thing...maybe. The tracking data is updated every couple of hours I think. Anyway, it gives you a better idea what is going on in between your local weather forecasts.

As of Noon CDT:

I just checked the 5 day rain forecast and we are now in the 6 to 8" rain band from Issac. Looks like I need to move the feeder it is sitting next to the pond right now and don't want to look out and see it under water. Though I would like to see that much water back in the pond.

Lassig....we, too, are in for a soaking. Everytime they update the storm's venture north, it seems to move at a slower pace.
since we are on the east side as it moves up, I expect the weekend to be a washout.....and that's a good thing for me.
I hope all of our friends in the path keep it safe and get the rain they want.

I'm right in the middle of the 6 to 12 inch.

See that 12 -18 - that is me. We won't get that much so maybe we will have lakes left.