Despite a delayed wheat harvest this year, Oklahoma may be looking at one of the strongest ingatherings in recent memory, reports KGOU.That’s because heavy rains caused the delay. For the second year in a row, Mother Nature was kind to Oklahoma farmers. Nevertheless, many farmers are still recovering from years of drought that only recently retreated. Even worse: Some climatologists warn the drought might be returning soon.
On average, Oklahoma farmers produce about 100 million bushels of wheat a year. But two years ago, after years of drought, that total had dropped to less than 50 million bushels. Last year, after heavy rains, things bounced back to almost average, with a total of slightly less than 100 million. But it wasn’t enough for some.
And many farmers are now beginning to diversify their crops in preparation for possible dry years ahead.