 When the snowing and blowing finally comes to an end in Wyoming, the farmers get out and about preparing their fields for spring planting. This is a busy time and tractors can be seen in the fields, turning last year's crop residue into black soil. Farmers often begin by spreading manure and fertilizer on their fields to provide nutrients to this year's crop. Wyoming farms mainly produce the corn and hay that is needed to supply the ranchers with winter feed for their cattle and sheep. However, they also may produce sugar beets that are later turned into the sugar we put into our daily coffee or dry beans that we may use in our hardy winter soups and stews. Not only are the farmers who own large acreages busy in their fields, but those that own small acreages and grow specialty crops are busy as well, preparing to plant corn for human consumption, berries, pumpkins, gourds, and other items that are sold locally at farmer's markets. Some of these farmers may also be growing crops such as lettuce, spinach, radishes, and carrots in hoop houses right now. Hoop houses are large, covered structures that allow farmers to grow certain crops earlier or later in the seasons. So whether one has a large or a small acreage, spring is an exciting time of the year to be a farmer. Things are just in their beginning, and the possibilities are endless. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Mae Smith, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.