A Little Rain Will Do

Before you start reading, scroll down to the bottom of the page and listen to the Cody Canada song A Little Rain Will Do.

I did not marry an emotional man. But the first time he heard that song a few years back, it brought tears to his eyes.

Every farmer out there knows the struggles of drought. It can wipe out an entire crop.

Farmers are stubborn and proud. As the song says, they don't want handouts when times get tough, just a little rain will do.

I cringe when I hear people complain about "bad weather" and "I wish this rain would go away already."

Especially this time of year.

If I could slap them without facing assault charges, I would.

I'm sorry the rain ruined your beach vacation. But be thankful it will mean higher yields and American-grown food on your table.

After losing our own crops to drought in the past, we finally took the plunge and started irrigating this year.

While we aren't irrigating any grain crops just yet, we are focusing our watering efforts on the sod fields. 

Last year's test run convinced us it was the direction we should go in.

But first we had to install electric down by the well to run the pump.

This is farm safety at its best.

Then we had to run a line from the well to the field.

Unfortunately you can't just drill wells anywhere.

It took us two tries and two wells to find enough water.

We will eventually bury pipe underground leading from the well to a couple of different fields.

This is an example of what you don't want to see.

And this is an example of why Woodrow loves to see it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

That dog is a mud magnet.

And skunk magnet.

And groundhog magnet.

You get the idea.

He loves to roll in it.

He loves to drink it.

He would probably eat the mud if we let him.