[CSA Update] Welcome to week 5

We measured our first rainfall in two months. We got about one-half of one-tenth of an inch of rain.

I could use about 6 inches of rain to stabilize the crops and support the water table.

We can't get all the rain at once. It would do the trick if it rained about one inch every other day. The plants are accustomed to dry conditions. Plants need food and light, and air to get to their roots. If a heavy rainfall happened now, the plants would struggle and start to suffocate.

The entire state is struggling with water. Last week most of the state was dry to reaching a moderate drought. This week see a solid shift to extreme drought in about 75% of the state. We even see extreme to exceptionally dry areas for about 13% of Connecticut along the eastern border.

I see the direct effects in the corn fields. The corn that should be about 7 to 8 feet tall is between 2 and 4 feet tall. The plants have tasseled - or matured. They have produced ears of corn. We get about one ear per plant; that is normal. But we are getting about half of the plants growing ears. Irrigation can support the plants, but rainfall is far superior. And I keep the irrigation pumps running. I keep hoping.

Keep an eye on the weather. When you know a heavy rainfall will come through - know I will be out dancing in the rain.