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Nebraska farmer says Mother Nature provided some relief from drought within recent rain

An Eastern Nebraska farmer says he recently received the most rain since June, but it was only a half-an-inch.

Quentin Connealy farms an hour north of Omaha along the Missouri River and says Thursday’s storm brought some relief to extreme drought. “Caught a couple of tenths here in August and July. But it’s amazing that a half-an-inch makes you feel pretty good and catch up on some bean irrigation.”   

But, he tells Brownfield, the moisture won’t affect the corn crop. “It’s so dry I think we’re sitting about 10-12 inches below the average 10-year rainfall. You’re starting to see some brown, especially the dryland corners, they’re starting to brown up.  You’re seeing some crops turning.  The dryland especially.  It’s starting to look like fall around here.”

Connealy says he’s winding down irrigation for the growing season. “We’ve put about 8 or 9 inches on our corn and maybe one more circle to help finish that out for test weight.  I think the corn is about finished.  For beans, that half-inch will still help. I think they’re still filling out pods.”

Because of the drought, Connealy says the crops will dry down quicker than average and harvest could begin soon.