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Optimsim brewing for harvest potential in Nebraska

A southwest Nebraska farmer says crop conditions vary widely across the region.

Tracy Zink says it was extremely dry and hot until timely regains begin in early August. “What turned out to be the saving grace was that we’ve had the humidity because that dew that we don’t really get was the majority of our moisture up until beginning August.”

She tells Brownfield some crops are in better shape then others. “The sorghum finally was able enough resources in the ground to throw a head. It will be a little late, but it looks solid and we had the early planted corn is struggling. It won’t be our best yield on the dryland.”

She says crops planted into continuous acres have failed for some area farmers but she’s slightly optimistic there could be some yield potential on her ground.

The USDA says 3 percent of corn has been harvested, and 55 percent is rated good-to-excellent. Soybeans are rated 64 percent good-to-excellent. Pasture and range conditions are 13 percent good-to-excellent.