In drought-hit Kansas, desperation is the only thing growing
ELKHART — Mary Coen apologizes for her dusty house.
She tells a visitor not to look at the windowsill in her farmhouse living room where a layer of dust has settled from the last burst of wind.
“The Good Lord hasn’t let it rain,” she says.
This summer, it doesn’t take much for the wind to kick up sand in western Kansas.
A 10 to 15 mph wind will cause the horizon to dim; at 30 to 40 mph, it darkens the sky and visibility is less than a 100 feet.
Much of Morton County is in an exceptional drought, the driest rating, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Already it is drier than the driest years of the Dust Bowl.
Since last September — 10 months ago — Morton County near Elkhart has received 2.99 inches of moisture. The normal average rainfall for that corner of Kansas is about 19 inches.
There was no dryland wheat harvested in the county this year; more than three-quarters of the county’s acres are dryland.
Farmers are selling cow-calf operations in record numbers because there is not enough feed. Newborn calves, less than a day old, are on the auction block.
Roads have been closed due to drifting sand, blocking access to gas and oil wells and causing some companies to shut the wells down temporarily.
Spring crops that are planted — corn, grain sorghum and soybeans — are done so on irrigated lands, or in the hope of collecting crop insurance.
It is so dry many western counties have banned fireworks for fear they could set off massive grass fires.
“I’d describe this drought as very bleak,” said Morton County agricultural extension agent Tim Jones. “You can’t do anything. It is hot, dry and windy. We are at a complete standstill.
“You can’t do anything agriculturally unless you have water. The irrigated people are trying to make it work that way. But all the dryland crops and cattle are barely hanging on.
“Until it rains, there just won’t be anything happening.”
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a drought disaster declaration for 49 Kansas counties, nearly half the state.
The drought is so severe, it even caused the Kansas Legislature to ease some of the restrictions on western Kansas irrigators, acknowledging the drought is quickly eating up their yearly water allotments.
On Thursday, the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources (DWR) announced it would allow water right holders alternatives for additional pumping this year due to the ongoing drought.
Morton Salt Company - News
Since last September, Morton County in far southwest Kansas has received 2.99 inches of moisture. The normal average rainfall for that corner of Kansas is about 19 inches. ELKHART — Mary Coen apologizes for her dusty house. She tells a visitor not to
The initial salt waste disposal occurred in the 1960s, coming from Blackbrook Creek via about 60 acres near Routes 283 and 44 in Mentor. The site's original owner was the Morton Salt Co. and later the Osborne Concrete and Stone Co.
Neal applauded Anadarko's work in the Salt Creek Field and its employment with 93 well-paying jobs, he said. “Fundamentally, I have no problem with the commission recognizing companies.” Reach Tom Morton at 307- 266-0592, or at tom.morton@trib.com.
A contract to purchase at least 1800 tons of road salt from the Morton Company at $74 a ton was approved. Although $5.50 per ton more than last year's contract with Morton, the company's bid still was the lowest of three received by the city,
Chief Executive Officer Norbert Steiner is also considering the expansion of salt operations in Asia. The company became the world's largest salt producer after acquiring Morton International Inc. from Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) in 2009.
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