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

LINCOLN, Neb (KLKN) — The recent rainfall improved conditions in some parts of the region, but Nebraska farmers say the outlook is still challenging.

Larry Hudkins is a farmer and a rancher in Lancaster County. He is starting to worry about the lack of rain and said it’s the driest it’s been in a while.

“Are we going to have a crop again this year?” he asked. “This is even drier than it was last spring.”

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John Hansen with the Nebraska Farmers Union said this is the time when a lot of farming decisions are made before crops are planted. 

“If things are looking really dry, then folks are going to be more inclined to maybe plant more sorghum, which is more drought resistant than is corn.” 

The drought is hurting both farmers and ranchers.

Hudkins said because of the drought he had to reduce his herd, which is the smallest it’s been in decades.

“We couldn’t afford to buy hay, or have it shipped in, so we had to sell the cattle,” he said.

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Hansen said that the agriculture business depends on the weather and that farmers are looking for solutions.

There is hope in the forecast. Channel 8’s Storm Alert Team says rain could come this weekend.

“We sure hope that it does,” Hudkins said.

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