Rain that fell on the region in the past few days was welcome in an area that's been mired in drought.

The hail, however, was another story.

Storms that moved into the area Monday night hammered Garden City with hailstones that ranged from pea size to softball-size whoppers.

Residents of areas hardest hit were left assessing damage to homes, vehicles and other property. Those more fortunate only had to deal with downed limbs, leaves and other debris generated by the hailstorms.

Meanwhile, not so evident for now is damage delivered to farm fields -- particularly the wheat crop.

While wheat is considered a resilient crop, it's finished if hail knocks off its top or pounds it to the ground. Less damaged stems can survive.

Assessments of possible crop damage due to hail ran the gamut recently, with experts predicting some areas likely receiving little if any damage, to the possibility of entire fields being destroyed. Adding to the worry were results of a hard winter wheat tour that showed lingering dryness and recent strong winds having taken a toll on area wheat.

When it comes to weather, farmers know to expect the unexpected. Consider last year, when extraordinary precipitation delivered over the winter helped generate strong harvests.

A year later, drier conditions dampened enthusiasm. That is, until recent storms that had the region awash in rainfall generated new hope.

As of Wednesday, Garden City already had received more than 2 inches of precipitation for the month of May -- more than three times the normal amount at this point in time.

That's the good news. The question is whether the recent rain will help salvage a crop that's already been stressed by dry, windy weather, then smacked by hail.

It's worth noting that such worry and uncertainty, whether here or in other wheat-producing areas, couldn't come at a worse time.

Total world stocks of all grains are close to their lowest level in 30 years. With a growing number of acres dedicated to grain for ethanol and other non-food purposes, food prices skyrocketing and more people going hungry, we can't afford to lose any precious wheat that's needed to help feed the nation and world.