By KRWG News
Albuquerque, New Mexico – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRWG) The irrigation season is officially over for thousands of farmers in the heart of New Mexico.
Despite the drought, it wasn't all bad for those growing crops in the Middle Rio Grande Valley.
The area marked one of the longest irrigation seasons in the state, while farmers elsewhere received just enough to water their crops for only a few weeks this summer.
Since March 1, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District had been parceling out water on a rotating schedule to ensure its canals would remain wet through Monday, the last day of the season.
Chief Engineer Subhas Shah says the district was able to store about 94,000 acre-feet of water upstream at El Vado Reservoir. That will help supplement next season's supplies since forecasts are calling for a dry winter.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG