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Nebraska farmer plans for similar rotation next year

A South-Central Nebraska farmer says he doesn’t anticipate changing his cropping rotation in 2024 even if drought continues.

Mike Bergen tells Brownfield two of his dryland fields will move to soybeans. “Dryland corners – I will look at reducing the population a little more. I already had reduced it 10% for 2023.  Now we will look at doing another 10 to 15 or more for next year. Just try to have a little something in those dry land areas.”

He says his area is desperate for any-type of relief. “We need to see some moisture. Need to see some snow need to see some fall rains here and then follow up with some spring moisture that’s going to be really key to plan ahead for 2024 to just see if we can replenish the subsoil moisture a little bit.”

The latest US Drought Monitor shows his area is in exceptional drought – the worse classification issued by the National Drought Mitigation Center.