Image-Brax VPC

Our normal July rainy season came a month late and did a great job of cooling off the Upper Valley and surrounding areas.

The rains are welcomed by most residents but not, surprisingly, by area farmers. One of the reasons is that the rains are not normally heavy enough to really feed the crops. There were a couple of those in late August but sometimes they bring cooler weather which is bad for the cotton crop.

Cotton was just going to bloom and the rain affects the blossoms. Insects sometimes take advantage of the rain and the added moisture which adversely affects the crop.

Alfalfa or "hay" can really be harmed by rain. Actually, usually the most harm is due to rain falling on already cut hay which is actually kept out in the field to dry. If allowed to dry... the hay will dry to about a 10 % moisture content and can be baled without falling apart.

When the hay is hit by rain in this drying stage it cases the hay to remiain moist longer and can actually cause the hay to rot. To avoid this harm, farmers must flip the hay several times to help the hay dry out from the rain. Multiple rains on cut hay will cause the hay to be lost only good for mulch or if baled... it causes the quality to fall thus costing the farmer great loses. When you see a yellow bale that is of recent cutting... it's been rained on.

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Editor, Upper Valley Beacon

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