03/22/06 Big storm helps the Plains

Farm and Ranch March 22, 2006 That big storm that swept from the U.S. Southwest across to the east over the weekend brought some areas of the southern Plains their first significant precipitation since last summer. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey assesses the benefits the storm brought for agriculture. Rippey: "It is enough to start reviving pastures. It is a long way to go before there is any useful forage there though. Probably too late for a lot of the winter wheat in Texas and Oklahoma unfortunately. Coming just a little too late after too much drought. Rippey says that storm brought big snows farther north, all the way into Montana. Rippey: "Probably the best news we have seen all winter for areas from Kansas northward." Wheat futures had been rallying on the drought in the southern Plains but just the anticipation of moisture had knocked about 40-cents a bushel off futures prices. Tuesday however saw wheat futures post some gains. USDA's Rippey looks ahead to the eight to 14-day outlook. Rippey: "Which takes us into March 28th to April 3rd. Calling for a much quieter pattern. Near to below normal rainfall expected near nationwide except California where it is going to stay showery and wet. In terms of temperatures we will see a return to warm weather in the southern Plains. We get to see how much benefit the recent rains have done their. For the rest of the country generally near to below normal temperatures with some very chilly conditions hanging on in the Northeast into early April." In April USDA will resume its weekly national crop condition ratings for the winter wheat crop. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.