By: Rachael Witter
rwitter@klkntv.com
Crops aren't the only thing drying up in Nebraska. So are parts of the Platte River. There are several streams and rivers that lead into the Platte River, but the section near Columbus is bone dry.
Nearby businesses are really starting to feel the effects, both good and bad.
Cornhusker Irrigation has never seen this much business in just one season. Owner Calvin Kropatsch says, "Probably running two to two and a half years business this year just with the drought and the high usage of the pivots and equipment."
Kropatsch says his service men are keeping busy with the huge demand for irrigation this year. But for Geno's Fishing Tackle, the dry Platte River doesn't help sales. Customers are still coming through the doors but are taking their tackle boxes elsewhere.
Owner Delores Kneifel says, "We lost them all again, walleyes and everything. And most families, it's too hot to take young kids out. I think it's hitting harder this year than usual and its been several years since it's been so dry."
As the drought continues to affect outdoor recreation, the condition of the state's crops is also on the minds of many.
Kropatsch says, "Everybody's kind of subdued. Everybody knows the reality out there isn't good. The crop is probably cut in half to 60 percent."
