Fields across western North Dakota have been bare for weeks – as winter snow has been hard to find so far.
That brings mixed reactions in farm country.
For ranchers, it means extra weeks of livestock grazing on crop residue – reducing stress on hay supplies for the winter.
But for farmers, it’s a concern because of the moisture needs in many areas.
Jim Hennessey of the Mountrail County Ag Agency says it’s like many things in agriculture – a mixed blessing.
(Jim Hennessey, Mountrail County Agronomist) “If you’re a farmer, they want the moisture, they’d like to see some snow and stuff. If you’re a rancher you’re enjoying what’s coming at you right now and it’s kind of nice to let them cows take care of themselves a little bit.”
The current drought monitor from the USDA shows Mountrail County and points east either ‘dry’ or in ‘moderate drought.’
The heaviest parts of the snow event forecast for later this week are expected to miss the driest areas of the state.
