Conditions are improving from a rainfall perspective.  Excessive heat late fall '25 and again in March 2026 really dried up available sub-soil moisture.  Ponds were getting low again on the farm.  Recent rains on 4/1-2 and last night 4/10 have helped with over 3" total for those two rain events.  Current conditions are most likely "normal".  It will take above average rain in April and May to get out of this drought which started in 2025.  Right now things are looking good!  Early songbird and shorebird migrations are well underway.  Flycatchers are returning, swallows are showing up, and turkeys may have already gone through much of their breeding.  This is early for turkeys and the heat of March likely prompted early breeding and bird migrations.    Many of the buck deer were still carrying their antlers at the end of March.  This is truly puzzling and my theory is that the lack of sustained cold this winter may have impacted deer shedding?  Got me.  Winter crops have recovered from the late frost in Feb. as well as from the recent rains.  Everything is green - thank God!