07/05/05 Farmers say the rains were timely

As winter ended this year it was fully expected that some southern Idaho farmers and ranchers would suffer from a lack of water. That was before the rains started to fall, rains in May and June especially. DIXON "We just feel extremely blessed in the amount of water that we have received in rain. We have had probably close to three, three and a half inches of rain and it's really been timely." David Dixon says the poor winter snowpack and the prospect of a hot, dry spring and summer forced him to make changes at his Greenleaf farm in Canyon County. DIXON "We decided not to raise the field corn. We planted spring wheat just because of the water consumption that field corn takes." So on this farm west of Caldwell, how does in look after the rain? DIXON "The early crops look exceptional." But Dixon like most other farmers wants to see a change in the weather. DIXON "We need heat units. The beans and corn I think thinks it's in the wrong place because it's just kind of sitting there shivering still." He'll probably get his wish. You know the old line about Idaho weather. If you don't like it, don't worry it will change in a few minutes. And remember July, two years ago and the record setting heat that Idaho endured. It could still get hot and dry. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott