TULSA, Okla. — After this year’s hot and dry summer, Monday’s rain was welcome news for ranchers and farmers.
When we first met rancher Kirt Thacker, weeks with no rain combined with the hot temperatures meant he didn’t grow enough hay to feed his cows. He had to use his surplus, which he usually sells.
Today’s rain was music to Thacker’s ears.
“I’m giddy. I am absolutely giddy. There’s rain coming down. You know, I mean, it’s going to take a while. We’ll have to get a half inch before we’ll get a full inch,” he said, “Today’s a good rain so far.”
FOX23 meteorologist Phil Price says Tulsa received nearly an inch of rain by mid-afternoon Monday. That’s more rain than in the past 51 days combined.
“Right now, what we need is to fill the ponds. I’m hauling about 5,000 gallons of water a day just to put in drinkers for the cows. So, if we can get the ponds filled, get some sub-soil moisture hopefully for next spring, that’s where we are at now,” said Thacker.
Chad Click owns Firewood King in Tulsa.
Monday’s rain gave him a day off from making deliveries but he says the rain is good for his business.
“Our wood is stored outside and because the ground is so dry, dust was blowing up onto the wood and making the wood dirty,” Click says.
That caused him delays in deliveries because he had to clean the wood before delivering it.
The rain also helps Click’s business with the power of suggestion. He says people start ordering firewood for winter on rainy days.
“I’m going to get more phone calls on rainy days and then, the wood’s clean,” Click said. “And then, I get a day off. I haven’t had a day off. I’ve been going for about 6 weeks straight., so having a day off is kind of nice right now.”
While today’s rain and the rain forecasted for tomorrow is significant, is it enough?
Price says the rain does provide some much-needed relief, but Green Country needs a lot more days like today to put an end to this ongoing drought.
©2022 Imagicomm Tulsa, Inc.