With half of the region under a state drought watch, Monday's rainfall was a welcome relief. But the approximately one-inch of rain that fell earlier this week did little to bring numbers up to their average levels, and the effects on our region's farmers could be significant.

                As of last week, the state Department of Environmental Protection declared a drought watch in 34 counties throughout the commonwealth, including Berks and Lehigh counties. In Berks and Lehigh counties, the "watch" status was triggered by below normal streamflow and low soil moisture. Montgomery and Bucks counties are not experiencing potential drought conditions, according to DEP.

                Still, rainfall levels are well below average and no significant rainfall is predicted in the near future. Kevin Crilley, an educational educator with the Montgomery County Division of Parks, Trails and Historic Sites, monitors local weather conditions independently through CoCoRaHS, a nationwide group of volunteers who collect precipitation information in their communities.

                Crilley said his readings from Sumneytown show precipitation of about 1.4 inches in June, 1.68 inches in August and just over 1.5 inches in September. He said July precipitation was slightly above average because of heavy rains during the last week of the month.

                Historical averages for the region during those months, according to WFMZ AccuWeather, are 3.6 inches for June, 4.13 inches for July, 4.22 inches for August and 4.2 inches for September.

                Dairy farms may be particularly hard-hit by the unusually dry weather this year. Mathew Haan, a dairy educator with Penn State Extension-Berks County, said the dry conditions have led to lower corn and hay yields, earlier harvest and possibly lower silage quality.

                Haan said he has heard from farmers who began harvesting their corn six weeks ago, which is extremely early. Hereford dairy farmer Keith Masemore said his corn crop is about a quarter less than what was expected, and hay yields are down, too. But, he added, "Our corn looks a lot better than most people's."

                Masemore said that farmers throughout the region have been hit hard by the dry weather – some more than others. "It's really spotty," he said about rainfall in the region. "East Greenville didn't get rain like Hereford did," for example. 

                In addition, pasture grasses are drying up and farmers may have to begin supplementing cows' diets earlier, which will affect the farms' bottom lines – especially with lower crop yields. Haan said grazers are usually kept out on pasture until October or mid-November, but farmers could lose about a month of grazing this year unless we see significant rain in the coming weeks.

                There are many more impacts of the weather: Masemore said he planted fall grasses in August, but they never grew; and he attempted to fertilize his pasture when rains were forecast over Labor Day weekend, but the region saw no rain and the fertilizer was another wasted cost.

                "The ag industry right now is in really rough shape," Masemore said, noting that a number of factors are affecting the viability of local farms. He said that although silage yields may be lower this year, a good season in the mid-West could hold down feed prices, but those deflated prices will effect local grain farmers. Likewise, the price of milk is "really down," Masemore said, at a time when farmers are facing increasing costs.

                In Upper Hanover, Frank McDonnell, a farmer growing switchgrass, said this is the driest weather he remembers since moving to the region in 1972. However, he said that switchgrass is well suited to drier conditions, retains water well and does not need a lot of fertilizer.

                "The yield isn't going to be like other years, but I am really glad I have this crop (switchgrass) this year," he said, acknowledging the difficulties faced by other area farmers.

                But it's not just on the farm. Masemore said that locals are noticing that water levels at spring-fed ponds and creeks are very low. "A lot of stones are showing that shouldn't be," he said of the stream passing through his property.  

                At Green Lane Reservoir, the dry conditions may look even more pronounced, especially to motorists observing the edges laden with algae and plant matter; however Bob Kahley, an Environmental Specialist with Aqua Pennsylvania, said it's "really not that bad" and estimates that the reservoir is only about 4 feet short of normal levels.

                Kahley said that the 60-foot-deep reservoir is more than 85 percent full, but that because the edges are so shallow, even when water levels fall by a foot, the impact seems dramatic.

                Those shallow edges are actually creating a boon year for area bird watchers, according to Crilley. Although Crilley said that the lack of rainfall throughout the region is "concerning," the exposed mudflats on the reservoir's edges provide excellent feeding grounds for migratory shorebirds.

                Crilley said that to date this year, 15 different species of shorebirds, such as sandpipers and plovers, have been spotted at the reservoir. The birds, which normally would not stop at the reservoir, are feeding on mollusks, worms and other insects exposed with the lower water levels.

                "Some [of these birds] are literally going from above the Arctic Circle to Argentina" during their migration, Crilley said.

                One such bird – the Red Phalarope – has been spotted at the park this year, marking just the third time on record that the sandpiper species has ever been sighted at the reservoir. According to the Audubon Guide to North American Birds, the phalarope "nests in the high Arctic, and winters in flocks on southern oceans. It is rarely seen inland in most parts of North America."