I received 0.22 inches of rain this week. The soil was temporarily moist after rainfall, but is beginning to dry out in the top three inches. The soil is still moist from 3 to 6 inches. The trees and grass are still mostly green but brown areas are beginning to show in sunny areas. Conditions are near normal, but are tending towards mildly dry. Precipitation for August was 7.13 inches, 3.17 inches above normal (180 percent of normal). September has been dry, with only 0.22 inch recorded here (0.40 inch below normal, which is 35 percent of normal). Precipitation here for the year is now 26.86 inches, which is 1.99 inch above normal (108 percent of normal). Precipitation for the water year is 0.49 inches above normal (102 percent of normal). Plants and wildlife. Bird visits to the bird bath have increased compared to last week. Approximately 20 species of birds (about 100 to 120 birds visit each day). Most plants are still green, but show signs of stress in the afternoon sun. Water Supply Water level in Standing Bear Lake (approximately 0.2 mile to the east of here) is about normal. Area creeks and ponds are also near normal. Nearby corn and soybean fields (dryland farming) still look good and are growing well.