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Nebraska producers could see drought relief with weekend storms

Nebraska farmers and ranchers could see welcomed relief from drought conditions with a weekend storm forecast to hit much of the state.

Climatologist Brian Fuchs with the National Drought Mitigation Center tells Brownfield the ground already thawed. “We have an opportunity now this spring to put a great deal amount of moisture in the soil profile especially deep in the soil,” he says. “That is a very big positive for row crop agriculture in the state.”

Areas in the panhandle are forecast to get up to a foot of snow.  Fuchs says the snow could also cause calving challenges but has other long-term benefits, “Many of those livestock producers are going to see benefits to their grazing lands, pastures and even stock ponds over the next couple of days that have been dry for quite some time.”

He says 80-percent of the state is in some stage of drought with southwest Nebraska in severe drought. 

U.S. #Drought Monitor 3-11-21: Drought coverage across the U.S. and Puerto Rico increased slightly following a mostly dry week, to ~39.1% of the area. Drought conditions intensified in the Northern Plains and much of Texas, and abnormal dryness developed in the Upper Midwest. pic.twitter.com/4RPzq8ICZt

— Drought Center (@DroughtCenter) March 11, 2021