Drought Monitor shows county in D2, D3 categories

Local agronomist says timely rains could turn situation around for planting

  • The latest Nebraska Drought Monitor Map shows 99 percent of the state to be abnormally dry, with most of Hamilton County in Severe Drought (D2) and a portion along the Platte River on the northwest side of the county is in D3, Exceptional Drought.
    The latest Nebraska Drought Monitor Map shows 99 percent of the state to be abnormally dry, with most of Hamilton County in Severe Drought (D2) and a portion along the Platte River on the northwest side of the county is in D3, Exceptional Drought.

    In one sense Nebraska’s unseasonably warm and dry weather since the first of the year has been a blessing. However, farmers and ranchers living in western Nebraska where fires have destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of last summer’s grass will be quick to say otherwise. And the multiple fires in our area over the past several weeks are evidence that moisture is very much needed here as well.…