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The tomatoes are set to go in the ground in a month, and the ponds still aren't full at Faylene Whitaker's farm in Climax.

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Typically, she said, the ponds, which provide precious irrigation during the growing season, are full this time of year. But right now, only three of the farm's dozen ponds are full, and several are more than half empty.

That's not great news, particularly coming off a brutal year for agriculture in the Piedmont and much of the South.

It's also a reminder that the drought that caught the region in its grip last year continues to hang on.

Even with a deliciously soaking rain earlier this week, the 5.1 inches of rainfall recorded so far this year is more than 2 inches below the norm, according to the National Weather Service.

In the most recent map available from the U.S. Drought Monitor, Guilford County remained in the worst category of drought. Tuesday's rain, along with more showers expected Friday, will help, but breaking a drought takes much more than a few days of rain.

For Greensboro, a key question will be whether the city's reservoirs will fill up before the temperatures heat up.

"It's hard to say," said Allan Williams, head of the city's Water Resources Department. There's a good chance, he said, but that's far from certain, and it all depends on the rainfall in coming months.

That means the city's current level of water restrictions — rules that ban sprinklers and washing cars except at commercial washes, for example — will remain in effect for the time being, he said.

"I think until we get the lakes full, we can't really say," he said.

Even if they fill up, other factors, such as stream flows, must be taken into account, Williams said.

So as springtime approaches, 2008 seems likely to resemble the previous year: A lot of people will be scanning the skies, hoping for signs of rain.

Whitaker said she believes this year will be better. You have to believe.

"I guess if you're farming, you're optimistic," she said. "It's like if you go to Vegas and gamble, you think the next roll of the dice is going to be better."

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com