'Big Melt' won't wash away drought

WILMINGTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The drip-drop sounds of the snow-melting symphony are like nature's lullaby, convincing some that the drought has been put to bed when in fact we could still be in for a rude awakening.

"It's really deceiving," says Fayette and Clinton County farmer Ronald Rockhold.

That's why Rockhold judges the ground by more than just the squish of his boots.

He's accounted for nearly every inch of rain his farm in Fayette County has had over the past 25 years.

He puts the data on a graph on his computer.

It shows that the melting snow isn't enough yet to wash away drought fears.

"Snow don't make as much water as you think," Rockhold says.

Over at the National Weather Service Office in Wilmington, the dought monitor shows that parts of Greene, Clinton, Warren and Butler counties are still considered to be in moderate drought.

Other areas remain abnormally dry.

"This lingering area of the drought is partially due to six month precipitation deficits combined with a low stream flow," says Hydrologist Julie Reed with the National Weather Service.

While we're still months away from planting season, the precipitation now is needed to re-soak the soils.

"One thing to consider is how much the soils have been recharged, if at all," Reed says.

Rockhold says the data shows how dry it remains and so does the dirt.

He found that out while building a barn recently.

"Dug a hole about 20 foot deep and it was dry all the way down," Rockhold says. "The guy with the backhoe said he'd never seen it so dry so deep."

Rockhold hopes to avoid a repeat of last year, when crop insurance is the only thing that saved the growing season from being a complete disaster for some farmers.

He's counting on this not being the last time he hears to drip-drop of melting snow.

"Farmers are always optimistic," Rockhold says. "If you were a pessimist you wouldn't farm."