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Storm Brings Rain, Hay Losses In Southwest

By Jeff Holmquist

Hay growers across parts of Arizona, Nevada and California are scrambling to restore their operations after experiencing the remnants of Tropical Storm Norbert.

Those hardest hit are contending with damage to hay bales and fields from standing water as well as to irrigation systems.

Several irrigation canals were damaged, numerous farm ditches were washed out and underground lines for irrigation systems were exposed and damaged near his operation outside of Phoenix, says Kevin Rogers.

“All the water has been shut off by the irrigation districts, and they’re trying to get things repaired,” the hay grower reports. “It’s going to take a while to get those systems back together, but hopefully the work will be completed in a week or so.”

If it takes any longer, hay growers may see more crop damage as fields begin to dry up, he adds.

At the same time, standing water in some fields that aren’t well-drained may cause rotting, Rogers says.

Rains hit some hay growers harder than others, says Linsey Dale, executive director of the Imperial County Farm Bureau in Southern California. One alfalfa exporter estimates that the growers he buys from lost about 5,000 tons of hay due to the storms.

“Those are mainly the bottom bales on a stack,” she explains.

Others’ freshly mowed crop lost quality as it was rained on, says Dale.

Imperial County normally receives only about 2” of rainfall a year, and irrigated alfalfa produces $215 million per year while other hay produces another $100 million. Rainfall, Dale says, can be a nuisance.

“If it rains here it turns to mud,” she notes.

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