<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/06/27/news/state/70-crops.txt">Some crops showing signs of too-dry soil</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Soil moisture took a dive last week and crops in parts of the state were showing signs of stress, as warm, dry conditions were felt across the state, a federal agriculture report shows.</blockquote><br />n<br />nI won't argue with any of this one bit, it's damn dry out there and looking at the weather forecast it's only going to get hotter and drier. Damn the bad luck.<br />n<br />nThe hay crop this year was lower than I expected. Less than one ton to the acre. I consider normal about one and a quarter ton to the acre so I am not looking at as much hay as normal. Lucky I have over 500 ton of year old hay from last year to make up the difference. <br />n<br />nI should finish putting the hay up today. I have never finished haying in June before and have never taken less time to get my haying done. That big new baler made a big difference. It can bale so much faster than the little baler it isn't even funny. The biggest problem I had this year was keeping the swather moving to keep enough hay down to keep the baler busy.<br />n<br />nThere is a little alfalfa growing back but I don't know if it will be enough for a second cutting. Only time will tell but with the lack of moisture I doubt it. There is a little barley hay left to do but it isn't ripe enough yet to cut. Give it a couple of weeks and I will be able to do that to.<br />n<br />nLets all think good thoughts and pray for some rain, not thunderstorms, rain. Maybe it will do some good.<br />n<br />n<strong>I was drained dry. Freddie Bartholomew</strong>