Not enough rain in 1976 for wheat growers

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the CBH on May 28, 1976:

Drizzle fails to help wheat

A slight rainfall in the area wasn’t enough to do any good for the dryland wheat farmers who need about a half inch of rain in the next three weeks to promise a maximum yield, Ed Woodbury Adams County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service officer manager said.

“It started sprinkling about 4:30 in the afternoon, but by 5:30 I was mowing my lawn. There wasn’t enough to do anything,” Woodbury said.

Grant County Extension Agent Ken Waud said the situation was similar in the Ephrata area.

“I understand there was some heavy rain in spots and every bit helps. I still think those dryland wheat farmers could use some water,” Waud said.

Happy New Year to all my readers!