Local Ag Producer Grateful for Timely Rain and the Crop It Produced

Farmer-rancher Peggy Bergsagel is one of those who have witnessed and understand what a difference a year can make.

"We are so blessed," she said. "Blessed and grateful! This year we have had an abundance of rain. "

On the southern prairies of the county, this year is one she will long remember. "From May 15th to June 15th, we had five inches of rain."

And timely rain it was. It came in the nick of time to provide adequate moisture for both crop land and grazing pastures and meadows. The rainfall has been sporadic across the borders of the county, though, and not all areas received the much needed precipitation.

Through the haze and thickness of smoke, it is still refreshing to see bales across fields that barely managed perhaps 10-30% of normal production the last couple of years.

In past years there were areas that were so dry that the creak in the floor dried up.

"Pr. Steve (Johnson, from the Little White Church in Malta) has been providing Sunday church services since the retirement of Pr. Hal DeBoer. We are always praying for rain. I know one of our parishioners that prays for "warm" rain," Peggy shared with a smile. Services are held at First Creek Hall.

The color palette across the prairie is still dusty grays with an array of silvery sage. When the hay lands add a touch of color to the boundaries, the farmers and ranchers welcome what they can get. Lately, the smoke floating through from Canada subdues any striking colors, the naked eye has difficulty seeing, and Mother Nature is taking the back seat 'til the winds blow through.

Some old timers put belief in the Blue Gamma grass and the flags on the stems. There are those that plan for a bad winter when there are at least three flags on the grass.

One thing a community can build on, is the strength of the people who will be there to lend a helping hand to assure crops get in.

"...thankful and grateful after the drought years filled with prayers. It is like, 'see what God has done'," Peggy added.

Unfortunately, not all areas within the county boundary have felt gentle rains fall on their faces. Neighbors adjacent to each other can have a huge difference in precipitation throughout the year as well. The farmers and ranchers live with the optimism of "next year" country..."next year it might be better". It's like a roll of the dice, one never knows what the outcome will be.

A couple of old "wisdomisms" to think about: if the sun sets behind a bank of clouds on Thursday, it will rain before Sunday; if the wind spreads the chicken's tail feathers, it is going to rain; and if there is sweat on the outside of a metal watering trough, it's going to rain. Surely, some of you have had your grandpa share wise thoughts with you.

Perhaps a sure one might be...if the town is flooding, we might be getting a rain.

Another old belief or word of wisdom is, "Rain is gold, you can't buy it, with all the money in the world you can't buy rain."