Drought improving but still hanging around southeast Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The drought is easing in Nebraska, but it’s stubborn in some spots, mainly the southeast part of the state.

On Thursday, the Lincoln-based National Drought Mitigation Center released a map showing that only 20% of the state is in drought.

At this time last year, practically the entire state was parched.

Today, most of Lancaster County is still in moderate drought, though things are improving.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska farmer says wet spring is setting harvest up for success

Tom Peterson, a farmer near Waverly, said the increase in rain gives him hope, but there is still room for improvement.

“We might be able to raise a crop, get enough grass for the cows,” said Peterson. ” I mean, the subsoil moisture isn’t there yet. We’re getting soaked up from the top down, and it hasn’t gotten that far down yet.”

Peterson said growing was difficult in 2023, but this year is looking better.

“The rains have been nice and soaking,” he said. “And that’s beneficial to getting our corn crop and our bean crop off to a good start. Give them the best start they can, and then you got to hope you’re going to continue to get those rains over the summers to keep feeding those things.”

SEE ALSO: Nebraska farmers ‘cautiously optimistic’ as planting begins

While his grass and crops are growing, Peterson said some of the creeks and ponds on his property could use a little more moisture.

“Those ponds are actually ground fed,” he said. “So the water level underneath is what actually brings the water level up in those ponds.

Peterson said once those ponds start to fill, that will be a sign that the drought is no more.

SEE ALSO: ‘Are we going to have a crop?’: Nebraska farmers worried about drought

He is hopeful that Friday morning’s storm will be productive and not destructive.

“We got a good grass stand to start with now, and there’s a good start with that for the cows,” he said. “But if that floods over, that lays all that grass over, covers some of it with mud. And, you know, you lose a lot of tonnage, a lot of a lot of meals for the cows.”

Peterson does not use irrigation, so he’s hoping Mother Nature will give him a helping hand.

“She takes good care of things, most of the time,” he said. “If we don’t have to haul water to the cows, that’s great … We’re dryland farmers. But you know, if Mother Nature gives us a shower every now and then, it’s very beneficial, and you don’t have to sit there and hope for rain.”

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