MINATARE, Neb. (Market Journal) —Farmers in Western Nebraska continue to deal with a lack of moisture as dry conditions affect crop production across the region.
Farmer Austin Kniss with Kniss Ag LLC says some farmers can plant only about a third of their corn acres due to limited water availability. He said they are lucky to have wells on some of their land, which allows them to plant where they can.
“Just with no snow in the mountains this winter and no rain this spring,” Kniss said. “We’re not having very good luck with that, and just don’t have very much water to get a crop grown.”
Kniss says producers also dealt with drought conditions in 2002 and 2012, but says conditions this year have been worse. Producers in the region say adjusting plans and keeping wells running through the summer will be critical.
“It’s never been this bad before,” he said. “It’s definitely a challenge for everyone, and we’re just trying to figure out what to do.”
Kniss said they will not even be planting a sugarbeet crop this year without the water to support it, and are leaning toward prevent-planted acres on lands without wells. He worries that regional production declines will affect their local processing facility, but says the farmers who can plant sugarbeet are working to increase acreage to offset the deficit.
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