Drought hurts county, farmers

By Bill Robinson
Register News Writer

June 27, 2007 09:02 am

— Madison County received only 44 percent of its normal rainfall from May 1 through Sunday.
“Your county would normally get 8.67 inches of rain in that period, but you’ve had only 3.84 inches,” said Tom Priddy, agricultural meteorologist with the University of Kentucky.
That puts the county near the extreme drought category. Rain deficits of 3.0 to 3.9 inches over 30 days qualify as severe drought.
The Bluegrass Region, which includes Madison County, was already behind in rainfall before May. From February through April, rainfall was in the region was off 3.42 inches
Some scattered showers in the Richmond and Waco areas Monday and Tuesday were some of the county’s first significant rainfall in 10 days.
The weather station at Eastern Kentucky University’s Hummel Planetarium recorded 0.34 inch of rain Tuesday and 0.76 inch Monday.
While residents of Waco said they also got nearly an inch of rain Monday, not all areas of the county got wet.
The watersheds for the three man-made reservoirs from which get Berea Municipal Utilities draws water got no rain Monday or Tuesday, said BMU Manager Donald Blackburn.
Like Richmond, Berea has asked for voluntary water conservation, but Berea is becoming more proactive in its approach, Blackburn said.
“We’re making personal visits to large commercial users asking them to conserve as much as possible,” Blackburn said.
The Berea utility last publicized its plea for voluntary conservation in the local media and sent letters to large water customers.
It requests no watering of lawns, parks, playing fields or other recreational facilities. Washing of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, vehicles or buildings should stop, along with any other “non-essential use of water.”
The Berea Chamber of Commerce is contacting its members, asking them to comply with the voluntary limitations. An e-mail from the Berea Chamber’s Executive Director David Rowlette asked members to forward the request throughout organizations and associates and on to families and friends.
While water levels in its reservoirs remain, drought-induced demand is straining Berea utilities pumping abilities, Blackburn said.
The Kentucky River pool between Boonesborough and Irvine, from which Richmond draws its water, has dropped by about 12 inches in recent weeks and stream flow has declined, said Scott Althauser, superintendent of Richmond Utilities. The Kentucky Division of Water has Madison County on a “water watch” rather than a water emergency, Althauser said.
“The river level is still adequate, and we’re meeting demand, but we’re still asking for common-sense conservation,” he said. “Use water only when necessary.”
The prolonged drought is taking its toll on local agriculture, aggravating the effect of a late spring freeze, said Extension Agent Brandon Sears.
Farmers selling produce at the Richmond Farmers Market on Tuesday, said the drought was worse in some sections of the county than others.
Like Berea, Baldwin got no rain Monday or Tuesday, said Myra Isbell, president of the Richmond market, who was selling peppers, onions, squash and cabbage Tuesday.
“We’re having to do a lot of watering,” said Isbell, who farms in Baldwin. “I’m afraid to see what my water bill will look like,” said Isbell, whose farm is supplied by the Kirksville Water Association.
The drought is rough on crops planted in April and May, she said. “The plants I haven’t watered, such as cucumbers, have dried up.”
Tommy Childers, who lives near the Kentucky River beyond College Hill, said his community got nearly an inch of rain Monday.
Childers, who was selling tomatoes at the farmers’ market Tuesday and expects to start selling corn there Saturday, has been irrigating his crops. He pumps water from the nearby Kentucky River to water his vegetable fields.
Since the decline of the burley tobacco crop, most Madison County farmers have relied more on beef cattle for income.
Freezing temperatures the last week of April, combined with the drought, stunted the first hay crop, which is one of the most economical sources of cattle feed. The first hay cuttings are running one-third to one-half of last year, Sears said.
“In a good year, some farmers can get up to four hay cuttings, but if the drought continues, we may get only two or three this year,” he said.
Dry conditions increase the risk of grass and mulch fires. Local fire departments are urging caution with backyard cookouts and fireworks over the July 4 holiday.
Berea ceased issuing burn permits in early June, said Fire Chief Randy Rigsby. “We’ve had very few grass and mulch fires since we stopped issuing burn permits,” he said. Families should take extra precaution if they cook out-of-doors during the dry conditions,” he said. “All its takes is one spark to ignite dry grass or mulch.”
Richmond does not allow any burning inside the city limits, according to Richmond Fire Department spokesman Corey Lewis.
In Madison County, only paper or wood products may be burned in the open, according to firefighter Byron Coffman. “Fires must be at least 150 feet from a structure or a wooded area, and “We ask anyone planning a burn to let us know in advance, so we can be prepared,” he said.
There may be some clouds on the horizon in the near future, and that is good news, UK’s Priddy said.
A slow-moving frontal system could bring rain to Central Kentucky by Thursday or Friday, he said. “I’m not promising rain, but this system looks like the best chance we’ve had in a long time for a prolonged rain.”
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.

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