Lots of rain for Lincoln in July, but farmers say it may be too late to help

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Most of Lincoln’s rain this year has come unusually late in the growing season.

For many farmers, it may not be enough to save them from the drought.

“We’re in such a shortfall position because of the subsoil moisture,” said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union. “There’s such an extreme deficit. So any rain we can get, we will take because we do need it.”

In July, the Lincoln Airport reported around 5.5 inches of rain, which is about equal to the amount that fell in April, May and June combined.

Some areas on the edge of the city saw close to 8 inches, according to CoCoRaHS Maps, which collects data from various locations.

But with the dry conditions in spring, it may be too little, too late.

“It doesn’t really help to send out the ambulance after the funeral,” Hansen said. “Getting the rains after the crops have already been damaged and hurt is not helpful, obviously.”

Earlier storms are essential to helping farmers start the growing season strong.

“Because of the lack of traditional rains when we usually get them and need them,” Hansen said, “We didn’t get the recharge this year that we needed to help us recover from the shortfall that we had last year, and in a lot of cases, the year before.”

Hansen said farmers have noticed that this irregular rain pattern is actually becoming more regular.

“The weather patterns are more erratic,” he said. “We’re seeing more variability, more volatility.”

Wheat and soybeans are being hit hard, and so are cattle ranchers.

Without the rain in the spring, grazing pastures never got green enough.

Farmers had to move their herds to other meadows or give them feed they were storing for winter.

“Our concern is that we’re going to see a lot of cow-calf operations that are going to end up being forced out of business or to really dig into their pockets and eat up a bunch of equity,” Hansen said.