Local farmers welcome winter precipitation - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

MADISON (WKOW) -- Any precipitation in the forecast will make local farmers pretty happy.  It's been an extremely tough and dry year for many of them.

They hope some winter snow or slush can help replenish the dry soil. "If we don't get some moisture this winter, whether it be rain or snow, we're going to be really nervous come planting time next spring," said Sunburst Dairy owner Brian Brown. The Dane County farm lost a lot of their feed because of the drought earlier this year and had to purchase more from outside of the farm than normal.

Farm Bureau spokesman Casey Langan said it's hard for farmers to recover from this type of year quickly. "Unless we get a good snow pack this winter and timely rains next spring and summer, it's going to continue to stay dry and that will impact soil conditions," Langan said.