We have been without measurable snow through the winter and the last measurable rain was 5 months ago. So even for our area it is extremely dry. The grass/weeds/groundcover I leave in fall to protect the soil is crunchy and most has blown away now in the wind so the dirt is following it. The ground has cracks in it where it is bare and around buildings. With the remarkable rain we had last year there was much growth but it is now gone and the wildlife and rabbits are digging up roots to eat. It looks like it did in 2008. I am on the Volunteer Fire Department and we have had several very large and wind driven fires in the Tucumcari area already. We do not have cattle on our 35 acres and the single horse is fully dependent on hay at present.