Local voices speak to impacts of current drought
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It’s no secret that it’s dry and windy across much of Nebraska at the present time.
It’s no secret that it’s dry and windy across much of Nebraska at the present time.
While many farmers are struggling with the beginning of planting season, local beef producers are finding this season equally as full of challenge and concern.
“Every producer, it depends on their operation (for what) their ideal conditions are, depending on how diversified they are,” said Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension beef systems educator. “So, I guess you always plan for the average conditions and then you look at your forecast. Ideal conditions are rising to warm spring with ample soil moisture already and then those spring rains that we rely on.”
With significantly less precipitation at this point in April than in other years, this makes three years of below average, dry starts to spring, he added.
“We’re never going to have perfect conditions for everyone,” Schick reminded.
Though there are small occurrences of rain throughout the week, the overall nature of the soil and most areas is still windy and dry.
Local grass-fed beef producer Luke Jacobsen noted both good and bad impacts on his operation.
“There have been a number of challenges,” Jacobsen said. “There have been some good and some bad, but my list of bad things outnumber the good by a fair margin.”
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