NEWS FLASH: Drought ends at Ponderosa

Had that nice rain on August 1st, then the little shower on the 10th. Other than that we have been really hot and dry. A chance of rain on Thursday. Dodge City is above average on rainfall and, I think, the only weather bureau in SW Kansas above normal. I have seen some really outstanding dryland milo fields in the Gray, Ford, Ness county areas. When I made a parts run to Haskell County recently I ran onto some heavy hail damage where the corn was totally stripped, some fields with only a stub standing. Should have made a note of it, but it may have been north of Copeland or Montezuma(I was on some back roads). I think I have only seen one pheasant hatch here on the Ponderosa and one in the road ditch in Haskell County. I have yet to see a turkey hatch here and only a couple fawns. I have been derelict in getting my game cameras out, but hope to soon and see what is out and about. Cover here is so heavy, CRP shoulder high in places, fireweed over your head and my food plots probably 9-10 foot tall. With that I will probably get a lot of camera activity with the vegetation blowing in our constant wind and lots of battery changes.
I don't see that bitter cold blast with rain in the forecast that seems to come about the dove opener that drives the dove out.
All is well at the Ponderosa and I hope all is well with all of you, your families and your canine companions.
 

Attachments

  • DC10day08252024.png
    DC10day08252024.png
    518.2 KB · Views: 4
Last edited:
Went through hell getting my email confirmed. Been working on it for a couple of months. Received .18 yesterday. Town had .5 in the first rain and maybe more after. Can't seem to buy a good rain. Lake is down 3 feet. Been trying to fill it since August last year. Went down 10 inches in July and 5 inches in August. Cattails invaded it while it didn't fill and we're having to spray those now to restore open water.
 
Prairie Drifter said:
Went through hell getting my email confirmed. Been working on it for a couple of months. Received .18 yesterday. Town had .5 in the first rain and maybe more after. Can't seem to buy a good rain. Lake is down 3 feet. Been trying to fill it since August last year. Went down 10 inches in July and 5 inches in August. Cattails invaded it while it didn't fill and we're having to spray those now to restore open water.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that. Hopefully it will change for the better. I don't remember the last time I was your way. Just not on my travel route anymore. Hoping you have a great fall.
 
A little shower in the wee hours this morning at the Ponderosa. Adding 0.45" equals 19.40" YTD
Dodge City Airport added about 2" I think.
 
Yesterday was brutal, high winds and blowing dust. Good subsoil moisture but powder dry on the surface. I planted my winter wheat three weeks ago and buried the seed deep to reach some moisture. It is up, but could sure use a rain to settle the powdery surface between the rows and keep it from blowing. Most the wheat planted at the same time as mine is in similar condition. I would say in my area that 75% of the wheat is just like mine and the other 25% planted but not up. Corn harvest is nearly completion. I would guess the milo harvest is 35-40% complete. Tuesday night, October 15th, there was a hard freeze on my bottom ground and a light frost on my upland. No further frost or freezing conditions for the next ten days. Potential rain in the forecast on Monday.
Still seeing only a few pheasant and quail at the Ponderosa and none on the roads. Not seeing any turkey hatches here and haven't seen any lesser prairie chicken. Seeing quite a few coyotes and lots of coons( I have a guy working on the coyotes and I will work the coons as I have a chance). A bobcat occasionally. Whitetail deer showing up on cameras are mostly doe and one really young fawn. The bucks showing up are either small or short on one side other than one old warrior missing an ear and a scratched up face.
So it goes at the Ponderosa. Hope all of you and your dogs are well and ready to hit the fields this fall.
 
Some of my farmer friends are not able to cut their milo because it won't dry down. They are waiting for a hard freeze to help them, but for the next ten days the low temperatures are forecast to be 45-50 degrees. There is a chance of rain on Monday morning, which would help the planted wheat. I think there is a very good chance that there will be much uncut milo for the opener.
 
Had to make a parts run today and with the red flag warning and RH less than 20% the milo is really drying down. From what I saw today, with lots of combines going I may have to change my prediction of lots of uncut milo fields to mostly cut. There is a little chance of rain on Wednesday, then a little better chance for the weekend. I really think there is going to be a lot of milo cut this week. My friends milo is getting cut.
Had a nice sunset on the way home and had the blessing of seeing my first lesser prairie chicken of the year, four flushing from the road ditch in an area I don't normally see them and a pair of small mulie bucks in the same spot.
There is an interesting red flag warning for tomorrow, it huge, but an area in the middle is not included(KS/OK line south of Dodge north to Hays.
 

Attachments

  • RedFlagOct292024.png
    RedFlagOct292024.png
    610.9 KB · Views: 8
M. R. Byrd said:
Had to make a parts run today and with the red flag warning and RH less than 20% the milo is really drying down. From what I saw today, with lots of combines going I may have to change my prediction of lots of uncut milo fields to mostly cut. There is a little chance of rain on Wednesday, then a little better chance for the weekend. I really think there is going to be a lot of milo cut this week. My friends milo is getting cut.
Had a nice sunset on the way home and had the blessing of seeing my first lesser prairie chicken of the year, four flushing from the road ditch in an area I don't normally see them and a pair of small mulie bucks in the same spot.
There is an interesting red flag warning for tomorrow, it huge, but an area in the middle is not included(KS/OK line south of Dodge north to Hays.
Click to expand...
Just curious if you saw any pheasant on your ride?
 
4AM Saturday November 2, 2024. Rain has started. Forecast is for a wet weekend. Last evening's run across the Ponderosa produced one covey of quail and a lone lesser prairie chicken(the first one I have seen this year here). No pheasants although I do hear a occasional crow of an evening. Two coyotes. I continue to be disappointed with the bird sightings. The Ponderosa has great cover this year with the early spring rains. The CRP grass is shoulder high in places and any waste areas have fireweed above your head. So lots of cover that could be hiding the birds but it is concerning that there would not be usual sightings on the roads and trails picking grit. Time will tell. My time to evaluate and critique is in the winter after a snow storm. That's when I can see what is really here and what I can improve on for the next hatch.
 
What was supposed to be a big rain event only ended up dropping 0.10" early Monday morning. YTD 20.90"
On road trips around the general area, I am not seeing any pheasants, but seeing an occasional quail covey in areas that I don't normally see quail. Strange.
 
Here at 7AM and I just dumped 1.30" out of the rain gauge and it is still raining and rain in the forecast for all day. Makes YTD 22.20", well above my 17.50" average. It is total slop at the Ponderosa, which is good for the wheat, CRP, ponds and pastures, but not ideal weather for tomorrow's pheasant opener. Be prepared for wet road and field conditions and it would be a good idea to avoid any minimum maintenance roads.
Be safe and good luck.
 

Attachments

  • 7AM8Nov2024.png
    7AM8Nov2024.png
    591.6 KB · Views: 1
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top