Nebraska farmer says wet spring is setting harvest up for success
WAVERLY, Neb. (KLKN) – One Nebraska farmer doubts the drought will last much longer if rain continues throughout the summer.
For the past two farming seasons, Nebraska has been facing drought conditions.
Tom Peterson, a farmer near Waverly, said it’s been tough because he doesn’t use irrigation.
“Here, we’ve always kind of relied on rainfall,” Peterson said. “So Mother Nature has got to be pretty kind to us.”
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Last spring, Lincoln only received about 1¾ inches of rain, according to data from the National Weather Service.
We’ve already surpassed that this year, with more than 4½ inches of precipitation falling in March and April.
Peterson said that’s setting farmers up nicely for the season.
“Any rain you get when you’re dry is almost good, except for that hail we had here a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
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Slower, consistent rain is better for the ground because the soil has time to soak it in.
Peterson said severe weather and heavy rain can cause problems during planting.
“The heavy rains are always worrisome for me with terraces,” he said. “Water is going to rush down the hill and carry a lot of dirt with it or blow through some spots and create extra issues that way.”
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But with additional rain and severe storms headed this direction, Peterson said he’s welcoming whatever he can get with open arms.
“Anything you can get helps you,” he said. “We don’t have enough at this point to get us through the summer or anything like that.”
But Peterson said if the rain keeps falling throughout the summer, it could be a very successful harvest.
