It’s not very often that farmers and ranchers complain about the rain. For them, not only is water the essence of life, it is paramount to the success of their agricultural operations, according to Southwest Farm Press.
But when is too much rain enough? It’s a question more farmers are asking lately.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), the long-awaited El Niño, or Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event, is the cause of much rain across large areas of Texas this spring season.
“There is still a lot of warmer-than-average water below the surface in the upper 300 meters of the ocean, helping to ensure that the above-average sea surface temperatures will continue for at least the next few months,” said Michelle L’Heureux, CPC meteorologist.
There is cause for farmers’ concern as too much rain is bad for farming. Crop experts say excessive rain can be as bad as not enough rain when it comes to crop health. An increase in insect and weed pressure and the possibility of fungus can all help to destroy a crop under extreme wet conditions.