Rainfall Effects on South Plains Agriculture and Water [INTERVIEWS]

Thursday on Lubbock's First News, Mary Jane Buerkle with Plains Cotton Growers and Lubbock County Horticulture Extension Agent Vikram Baliga joined Tom and Laura in separate interviews, both talking about the recent rainfall on the South Plains.

Buerkle and Baliga spoke in-depth about the much needed moisture and it's effects on ag producres as well as our water supply in general.

About the amounts of rainfall received this Spring versus meeting time and insurance constraints, not to mention the physical conditions needed for planting cotton, Buerkle said,

At this point, the benefits of the rainfall are outweighing the delays. Now, could we be in a situation over the next week or so if it continues to rain? Absolutely, because as badly as we need the rainfall, we also need that window to get this cotton seed in the ground.

On the total amounts of recent rain for the South Plains, Baliga said, "Our average [rainfall amount] for the month of May is about 2.3, 2 1/2 inches, somewhere around there. We've had over 7, to date". Baliga continued, "And just to keep that in perspective, we had, in 2011, we had just over six inches of rain in the whole year."

Listen to the interviews with Mary Jane Buerkle and Vikram Baliga in the video box above.

Tune in to Lubbock’s First News with Tom Collins and Laura Mac each weekday morning from 6:00 am to 8:30 am on NewsTalk 790 KFYO or online at KFYO.com