With more rain and flooding coming our way, Rogue Nation President Al Jorgensen declared a State Of Emergency at Rogue Farms in Independence, Oregon.
This new round of flooding started midday. Wigrich Road was flooded in at least two places and water poured into our hopyard. By tomorrow morning it’ll be four feet deep.
As far as the rain goes, Mother Nature gave us a break on Friday. Not nearly as much moisture as expected and the National Weather Service dropped many of the flood warnings it issued earlier in the day. Saturday looks mild, but the rain and wind kicks up again on Sunday. By Sunday night a new huge storm rolls in from the Pacific Ocean and will dump 2 – 3 inches of rain on us Monday and Tuesday.
Bottom line, we don’t get a break from the floods for at least a week.
How To Read This Graph: The Red line at the top is the National Weather Service official flood stage. The orange line shows when we expect flooding at Rogue Farms.
Looking at the graphic, you’ll see that Rogue Farms floods long before the National Weather Service calls it a flood. It’s because we’re located on low-lying bottomland. Bottomland is great soil, and the alluvial dirt of Rogue Farms is one of the reasons why we have such great terroir for growing hops.
But farming on bottomland comes with risks. Winter rains and floods are part of the natural cycle of Rogue Farms. They replenish soil moisture at a time when our hops need it the most. That’s what growing beers and spirits in collaboration with Mother Nature is all about. You learn to work with whatever she sends, knowing that in the long run it’ll be worth it.
