Nebraska farmers ‘cautiously optimistic’ as planting begins

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Farmers across southeast Nebraska are prepping their dirt this week as they begin another growing season in drought.

Paula Peterson and her husband run a farm near Waverly. They start planting corn this week.

“So far, we’re cautiously optimistic,” Peterson said Monday. “We try to go into that every year.”

This is the third straight year of drought for southeast Nebraska, according to the Nebraska Farmers Union.

But Zach Morton, who was helping the Petersons plant, is hopeful that the recent rain will make a difference.

“It’s helping a little bit,” she said. “We can definitely use a little bit more.”

Peterson asked that people pray for farmers and pray for rain.

“If we get some good rains this week, cross our fingers that we’ll end up with a positive year,” she said.