Recent heavy rainfall has given Nebraska farmers the moisture they need, but some fields are partially flooded from the precipitation.

Paul Fischer

    Nebraska has been graced with more rainfall this year than in the past, with precipitation this year already inches above the usual at this time in the summer.
     As a result, agriculture is reaping the benefits. While previous years have had dry spells, the future looks bright for local farmers, especially when it's pouring outside.
     State Climatologist Al Dutcher said the predicament of Nebraska farmers is much better than last year, with rainfall in many areas several inches higher than average.
     "Last year about this time the thermostat really took off through the second half of June," he said. "We were getting little in the way of significant moisure, and it took its toll on crops. We did see some problems in corn yields. It took a pretty good beating."
     In comparison, this year looks much more promising to Dutcher.
     "[Farmers] should have excellent yields," he said. "We could be looking at some tremendous yields in corn, wheat and sorgum. We have kind of an optimum condition going on."
     Doug Cast, a farmer near Beaver Crossing, had similar thoughts on the current condtions.
     "This is a lot better, because we didn't have enough moisture to activate the herbicides last year," he said.
     Brian Wienhold, Soil Scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, said the heavy precipitation replenished soil water and drew Nebraskans out of drought status.
     "That's the good news. The bad news is the rainfall has been so intense that we've had a lot of runoff and above average erosion," he said. "Just in travelling around Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa these last few days I've seen that the amount of rainfall has made farming operations more challenging for farmers."
     Wienhold said whether or not this year's farming is an unmitigated success still depends on rainfall later in the season.
     "We'll need timely rains later in the season," he said. "For farmers who use irrigation it's not that important. If farmers are able to get cultivation and herbicides on, then we'll have things under control."
     Dutcher said he doesn't see any major problems ahead.
     "There's no indication now that we're in any problem. Based on what's happened in the last couple nights we've almost had too much of a good thing. We've had some replanting issues, washouts and flooded fields. Whether or not it continues, none of us know. It doesn't appear likely."
     Seward County farmer Todd Ricenbaw said he likes the heavy rainfall, despite its drawbacks.
     "For the most part our population counts are good," he said. "We have a few drowned-out spots, but it's not too bad. I'd take the rain over the dry weather anytime, and I hope it keeps coming."