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Concerns over the drought are growing for farmers as planting season approaches

A pair of farmers say the drought in the Central Plains could play a large role in early crop development stages

Brandon Hunnicutt grows corn and soybeans in Southern Nebraska near Gilter.“We’re drier than 2012 and it’s dry at our place and (the soil), when we get down a little bit we’ve got some moisture but we keep missing everything moisture wise.”   

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor showed the drought got smaller but intensified with pockets of extreme dryness developing in Central Nebraska and Kansas.

He tells Brownfield the use of conservation practices could help with planting. “Not just this year, but previous years, we’ve tried to take appropriate steps to make sure we’re not losing any more soil moisture that we need to whether it’s no till or strip till or using cover crops when we need to.”

Northeast Nebraska farmer Greg Anderson says the drought may not affect soybeans at the start of planting but is concerned about dryness later in the season. “Usually in that late April timeframe into May, we do get some moisture that get those beans up and going, and a young soybean plant doesn’t need a lot of moisture. We need a nice general rain when were done planting to get them up uniformly and get them going.”  

The Drought Monitor also showed drought either expanding or worsening in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Hunnicutt and Anderson spoke with Brownfield at the Commodity Classic.