Now, we actually only get 9 inches of rain a year on average, and the past few years, we were lucky to get 7 inches. It's just making up for the past. So really, we're not complaining too much.
We are really thankful that the alfalfa wasn't cut and laying in the field when the rains started...otherwise by now it would have been a total loss and we would have had to pay to just get it off the field. Amen for a lil' bit of good luck there!
Yesterday afternoon the thunderstorms rolled in and dumped 3/4 inches of rain in about 30 minutes. This was our first flash flood.
This is the rim behind the barn. It started as just a lil'trickle and grew into this in about 10 minutes.
Years back, there was a really huge mud flow caused by a flash flood that reached the house. After that, a berm was dug on the top side of the rim and it directs all the water down this one spot. It works well, as I'd rather have the flood come down here than at the house!
Three years ago, we had a lot of snow on the ground and then a bunch of rain. We had the water fall for about 2 days that time. This time, it quit after a couple of hours.
Once it hit the bottom it spread out, but the majorityof the flow went downhill (left) to the rim pasture.
An instant river flowing under the gate.
Then it kept flowing on out to the alfalfa field.
All the rain from the barn roof and surrounding areamade a stream between the back barn door and the round pen.
Water coming inside the barnthrough the front door in this photo.
Water actually came into the barn through all three stall doors and both front and back doors...it's a mess.
Here is a good reason to put in raised garden beds!!If I hadn't, I may not have had a garden anymore!
I'm hoping the stupid Sage Rat that's been eatin'
my plants got drowned out too!!
We're working on a barn makeover this year. Part of the makeover includes raising the ground level inside the barn (which the builder didn't do...that's why it floods).
The forecast for this week is for decreased showers and warmer temps...praying for good weather!!
Water...can't live without it, but I hate those gullywashers. I hope that this coming week brings the start of more sunshine and a good hay season for the Rough String. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThat's a ton of rain! Man, what a mess of mud you're going to have! The barn looks pretty cozy, despite the water coming in. Hope it lightens up for you guys and you get the alfalfa cut.
ReplyDeleteThat does look like a lot of rain! We've had a very wet spring too, and I'll be glad when it stops and summer finally comes!
ReplyDeleteWow. Feel free to send some of that rain over Montana way. My grass is already dead! Funny how some things are a blessing and a curse at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLOL.... so when dod you come to my place and take pics.... that was here on friday.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of wearing irrigation boots in the dry lot.
Talked with my hay grower and she thinks 2 or 3 weeks out still for cutting..... bah, her fields are like sponges.
thanks for sharing.
Wow, that's a lot of rain at once! We've been having unseasonably cool weather here lately, but I love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your hay crop didn't get ruined! I feel your pain for the water. Our pastures look like that all winter long, under normal conditions! We have been having unseasonably dry and warm weather this spring. It's been a weird year for weather, in general! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteYour rain is usually normal for us here. Like Pony Girl says, we live with the wet and mud all fall, winter and spring. It has been so nice to get over 26 straight days without rain!
ReplyDeleteI feel for you, I really do, I know what it's like. I am glad you didn't lose your hay crop! That would not have been good! Hope it gets warmer and drier for you real soon!
This rain is crazy, isn't it? I am in utah right now and it's raining her like I am in Louisiana. It's rained every day since I got here. You guys have some serious mud there!!! I am glad your garden and alfalfa is safe. And I too hope that rat thing drowned! I hope you get some dry weather.
ReplyDeleteRain is good, until you have too much or not enough. I'm thankful you don't have to worry about it at your house!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had more than 6 inches in over a year. We're supposed to average about 11 a year, even in our desert! We're on water restrictions because it's so bad!
I'm so envious of your rain. He haven't gotten any in quite some time now. Everything is so dry. And the 100 degree temps aren't helpin' either!
ReplyDeleteSend some here. It's been dry as a bone all year. We didn't even get enough snow over the winter...less than 10" all winter.
ReplyDeleteOur weather's been kooky, too. It's been in the low 40's at night and only up to the 60's during the day for most of June.
We're finally getting some warmer temps this week. Good thing for the brand new foal, for sure.
Stay dry up there!
~Lisa
Looks like our farm! We got 2 7/10" of rain in 20 minutes a couple weeks ago and then a couple days later we hit over 3" of rain....flooding in places that its not flooded here in many years...its drained, and only ruined one field of soy beans, luckily. This is the most rain we have seen in a long time! I just hope it lasts through out the summer, tho not flooding!
ReplyDeleteWhat's that all about, anyway? It's supposed to be sunny in Harney County!
ReplyDeleteOur hay got cut this week, and turned again today. It's so fun for me to see this process for the first time, as we just bought our first home (in Germany) and have 5 acres for making hay.
ReplyDeleteI just found out that alfalfa hay is not grown at all in Germany. Most horses here eat silage (shrink wrapped fermented grass) some, like mine, get timothy/orchard grass. This is what we're harvesting now. If it would have rained this week, it would have all been wrapped up in plastic for silage. Thank God the weather is holding!
Why no alfalfa? I honestly have no idea. You can buy packaged alfalfa at the feed store (not pellets - actual plastic bags full of alfalfa imported from northern Europe). But those are really pricey.
Can I grow alfalfa? Say there's just no market for it here (many horse owners have not heard of it - it's called "Lucern" here).
I wonder if it's possible for me to grow my own. What are the requirements? Can the field be repurposed later in the year, or must it remain off limits for horses?
Curious,
~lytha
p.s. Pics of our haying week here:
http://horsecrazyamerican.blogspot.com/
Well I may have answered my own question - I asked our hay farmer today if alfalfa is grown in germany and he said "Ha, it's hard enough to grow HAY here, with the weather!" (meaning grass hay)
ReplyDeleteOK then!
~lytha
Wow! And I thought we had been having bad weather in Chicago, doesn't seem so bad now that I've seen what you have been going through. Hope your crops are going to be OK.
ReplyDelete