02/27/13 FARMDROUGHT0227 Reporter’s Name

ANCHOR INTRO: READ BY THE ANCHOR
After more than a year of drought, some Missouri farmers are optimistic that the recent snowstorm could bring some much needed moisture and relief to the area. KBIA’s Katy Mersmann(MURSE-man) reports about the snow’s potential impact in Missouri.

Try to avoid concluding the anchor intro with “throw away lines.” Examples include “Katy Mersmann has more,” “Katy Mersmann has the story,” and “Katy Mersmann reports.” Instead, introduce the reporter in a final sentence that also conveys relevant information about the story topic.

FARMDROUGHT0227 TRT: 2:17 SOC

NAT SOUND Tractor2 (:06)

That’s the sound of a tractor rolling through the fields at one of MU’s research farms just south of Columbia.

John Poehlmann(NO PRONOUNCER NEEDED IN THE TEXT THE REPORTER READS)is the assistant director here and knows the pain farmers are feeling over the on-going drought.

POEHLMANN1 TRT: 0:06SOC: in the summer

“If we don’t have the water to irrigate with, then you just watch your plants die in the summer.”

At this station, Poehlmann and his staff grow corn and raise beef cattle.

He says crop yields were down across Missouri as much as 75 percent due to the drought.

Poehlmann hopes this snowfall is a step in the right direction.

POEHLMANN2TRT: 0:09OC:moisture
“I’ve seen lots of people that spent maybe 24 hours in a day trying to fight the snow, but they said ‘At least we got some moisture.’

MU atmospheric science professor Anthony Lupo has been studying the affects of the drought.

He saysthe recent snowstorm can be ideal for mitigating drought conditions, sometimes even better than rain… But the real test comes in the spring.

LUPO2TRT: 0:14OC: a slower melt
“With snow, ideally, we get a nice deep snow like we’ve had in the last two weeks, and if the ground underneath is not too frozen, when it melts, it’ll gently soak in, especially if we get a slower melt.”

LUPO3TRT: 0:12OC: farmers in mid-Missouri
“Spring is going to play into that somewhat, but if this snow gets into the soil, it’s going to give the crops a fighting chance come summer, especially if we get normal rains in the spring.”

Missouri cattle farmer Brie Menjoulet relies on ponds and creeks to provide the water she needs.

Since the snowfall, she has already noticed improvement on her land.

MENJOULET1TRT:0:14OC:we’re still behind

“The recent snowfall and the rainfall we’ve got has sure been a blessing. Ponds are filling and some of the creeks are now running. It’s gotten better, but we’re still behind.”

Lupo warns that the snow alone will not cure the drought and that Missourians should prepare for a hot, dry summer.

LUPO4TRT: 0:16OC: than last year
“Our summer outlook for 2013 is that we expect the temperatures to be a little bit above normal for most of mid-Missouri and little bit on the dry side of normal. This could be bad news, but it’s certainly going to be better than last year.”

How much better? Lupo says it depends…on ground conditions, the rate of run-off and how fast the snow melts.

OUT CUE

With producer Batul Hassan, Katy Mersmann, KBIA news.”

ANCHOROUTRO
For more information about the storm’s effects on the drought, visit kbia.org.

“Standard Out-Cue” (SOC): “Reporter Name, KBIA news.”

“Standard Out-Cue” (SOC) with a partner: “With producer (Name), Reporter Name, KBIA news.”

“Standard Out-Cue” (SOC) with two partners: “With producers (Name) and (Name), Reporter Name, KBIA news.”

“Standard Out-Cue” (SOC): “Reporter Name, KOMU 8 News, Columbia.”

“Standard Out-Cue” (SOC) with a partner: “With producer (Name), Reporter Name, KOMU 8 News, Columbia.”

“Standard Out-Cue” (SOC) with two partners: “With producers (Name) and (Name), Reporter Name, KOMU 8 News, Columbia.”

***Columbia should be replaced with WHATEVER town you’re in for your last frame of video***

Never end your story on a sound-bite. Always include at least one sentence of text after the bite to conclude the story.