Drought conditions continue to ravage Western Nebraska

Coming off a year that saw one of the worst droughts in the past thirty years, farmers received news late last month that relief does not seem to be on the horizon.

According to the latest seasonal assessment from the National Weather Service, “drought persistence is likely across California and the northern intermountain West due to a dry summer climatology.”

While the western part of the state has seen scarce improvments in the dry conditions, many eastern portions of Nebraska have improved considerably, according to the results of the assessment.

“Last year was one of the worst drought years we had,” said Robert Nagel of Kimball Farm Service Agency. “Kimball County was classified as a D4, the worst you can be. That carried over till now, and with the few snows and rains we had, we’re now a D2. It’s not as bad as last year, but it’s still pretty bad.”

The results of the assessment show that Kimball and the surrounding area would need between 15 to 18 inches of precipitation to reach normal levels for the region, historically.

However, to date, Kimball has received just over seven inches of precipitation since January 2013.

According to the Drought Monitor, which analyzes soil conditions throughout the country, the segment of Nebraska to be considered in drought increased by just over one percent over the past seven days.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service rated topsoil moisture nine percent very short, 32 percent short, 58 percent adequate and one percent surplus.

Subsoil moisture supplies were rated at 23 percent very short, 35 percent short, 42 percent adequare and zero percent surplus.

Wheat, which is the primary crop in this area of the state is struggling, according to Nagel.

“Some spots have gotten some rain, and don’t look too bad,” said Nagel. “I would say that the wheat is average to below average because of the continuing drought.”

In terms of the spring crops, it appears that the drought is already impacting the plants, with much of the area failing to meet expectations.

Some of the wheat that has failed to grow into a substantive crop has been pulled and used for hay, given the value of it with the drought continuing on for the forseeable future.

“Our crop is all across the board in terms of what it looks like,” said Nagel, a 34-year veteran of the Farm Service Agency. “Last year was the worst year that I’ve ever seen.”

Last year, the Crop Insurance Program paid out over $17 billion to farmers, the most the program has ever paid in a single year, according to Nagel.

However, without a Farm Bill coming out of Congress, farmers battling the drought could lose an important ally in the fight - subsidized portions of crop insurance.

“The Farm Bill provides subsidies to the crop producers for a premium,” said Nagel. “It covers about sixty percent of the premium for a farmer to insure his crop.”

With this additional cash coming out of the pockets of farmers across the country, an air of uncertainty has settled across many agriculturally-driven states, including Nebraska.

“The issue with no Farm Bill is the farmers don’t know if there is going to be any disaster assistance for last year, this year or any continuing Farm Bill,” said Nagel. “They’re trying to make long-term goals about what they want to do with their operation, and without this information, that’s pretty hard to do.”