NEWS FLASH: Drought ends at Ponderosa

Ponderosa had 0.75" on July 16th bringing YTD to 12.50" Praise the Lord
I am not used to this moisture. I did my usual food plot planting that usually produces mixed results from fair to poor. This year I hit it right and have some great looking plots. Still not seeing many birds. Two quail hatches, some quail pairs, but no pheasant or turkey hatches and zero fawns, but cover is a jungle so they are there somewhere, I'm sure. I won't be doing any serious mowing until mid August, but that will be when I will have a better feel about this year's bird success. Not seeing any birds on the roads near the Ponderosa.
 
M. R. Byrd said:
Ponderosa had 0.75" on July 16th bringing YTD to 12.50" Praise the Lord
I am not used to this moisture. I did my usual food plot planting that usually produces mixed results from fair to poor. This year I hit it right and have some great looking plots. Still not seeing many birds. Two quail hatches, some quail pairs, but no pheasant or turkey hatches and zero fawns, but cover is a jungle so they are there somewhere, I'm sure. I won't be doing any serious mowing until mid August, but that will be when I will have a better feel about this year's bird success. Not seeing any birds on the roads near the Ponderosa.
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I have not seen any pheasant chicks. Farmers are now spraying all the way to the road. No cover in the ditches. Been like that the last 2 years.
 
I am seeing lots of cottontails this year at the Ponderosa and a few Jack rabbits. I did see one kangaroo rat, something that I have not seen for probably twenty years.
 
Fast moving storm last evening. Big blow. Reports of trees blown over. Just a quarter of an inch here at the Ponderosa bringing YTD to 12.75"
 
Thursday night added 1.50". Praise the Lord. Brings YTD today to 14.25". Annual rainfall at the Ponderosa is 17.50"
We have been really hot and the rain was certainly welcome. Not used to this much rain at the Ponderosa.
The Dodge City Days Rodeo seems to bring a rain to the area.
 
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It has been such an unusual year here at the Ponderosa with the rainfall, but knowing at my farm it could end any time. I, as always, remain thankful for my many blessings. Food plots here are hit and miss with the weather, but this year it was a hit, thanks to the timely and beneficial rainfall. I planted a couple acres of scattered plots in my deer hunting area. Adjacent to the plots are some scrub trees in the drainage, mostly hackberry and this year a solid stand of fireweed, thick as hair on a dog's back and 8 foot tall. These plots are by far the best of my lengthy lifetime. I am thinking that I may need to have a deer tracking dog ready because I don't know if I will be able to find a dead deer in this jungle. Pheasants don't seem to like this part of the farm, but the quail do. I really don't think bird hunting will be an option this year with the thick cover, especially the fireweed, but the quail will do just fine and be safe from avian predators. The heavy grain heads on the tall cane will eventually crash to the ground this fall and provide good food all winter. A heavy snow would crash the cane, but heavy snows seem to be a thing of the past. The yellow/black surveyor's rod is 6.5' tall. The food plot mix came from Star Seed, Osborne, Kansas.
 

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Here is the seed mix. I haven't seen any sunflowers in the field. I planted with my Great Plains no till drill and I might not have had the cups open enough and damaged the seed. Overall I am extremely pleased with the mix.
 

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So thankful for the rainfall this year as we enter a very hot dry period and wonder when the next rain will come. I have the winter wheat ground ready. Usually try to plant between September 15 to October 15, but will plant when there is moisture. If it doesn't rain during that period, then will drill really deep hoping to get the seed to moisture.
Right now in a heat advisory
108 outside, low humidity at 18%, wind SW 19
 
M. R. Byrd said:
So thankful for the rainfall this year as we enter a very hot dry period and wonder when the next rain will come. I have the winter wheat ground ready. Usually try to plant between September 15 to October 15, but will plant when there is moisture. If it doesn't rain during that period, then will drill really deep hoping to get the seed to moisture.
Right now in a heat advisory
108 outside, low humidity at 18%, wind SW 19
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Saw 4 groups of quail chicks Friday last hour of the day. 2 large groups of double digits, country out of the low lying area starting to heat stress but it is August. Can’t wait to feel that first north wind that brings a chill! My route of southern ks has looked good all summer
 
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