By Allison Peck
The rain Nebraska farmers have been waiting for is finally showing up — but it's arriving just as producers need dry weather to get into the fields and harvest their crops.
Moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Polo is expected to contribute to another round of rain across the Plains this week, adding to rainfall that has already improved soil moisture conditions in parts of Nebraska.
For a state that has dealt with significant dryness this year, the additional moisture could provide some relief. But for farmers trying to finish harvest, the timing presents another challenge.
Nebraska Extension reported Monday that producers had just 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sept. 27. Persistent rain slowed harvest and delayed winter wheat planting, and additional rain in the forecast could prolong those delays.
Corn harvest was 11% complete statewide, compared with a five-year average of 15%. Soybean harvest was only 5% complete, compared with a five-year average of 17%.
Winter wheat planting was also behind its normal pace, at 38% complete compared with a five-year average of 60%.
At the same time, the rain is addressing a problem Nebraska has been dealing with for much of the year: inadequate moisture.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows improvement across portions of the High Plains following recent rainfall. Western Nebraska received approximately 2 to 3 inches of precipitation during the week covered by the latest report.
However, the improvement has not eliminated drought concerns. The Drought Monitor says more precipitation is needed to alleviate continued extreme drought across portions of the region, with areas of exceptional drought still present in western Nebraska.
Nebraska Extension's latest assessment also shows why rainfall totals don't tell the entire story.
While recent rain has improved topsoil moisture, deeper soil remains dry in portions of the state. Statewide, 20% of topsoil moisture was rated short and another 10% very short. For subsoil moisture, 27% was rated short and 16% very short.
Nebraska Extension's fall and winter outlook notes that Nebraska has experienced uneven drought recovery, and that rainfall alone doesn't tell the entire drought story. Soil moisture, atmospheric demand and conditions affecting crops and rangelands all factor into how drought conditions develop and recover.
That leaves farmers in a difficult position.
The moisture is beneficial for dry soils and could continue improving drought conditions, but wet fields can keep combines and other equipment out of the field. Persistent humidity and rain can also slow crop drydown, further limiting opportunities for harvest.
Nebraska Extension says a potential shift toward drier weather in early October could provide producers with a window to get back into the fields.
For now, Nebraska is caught between two needs: the state needs the moisture, but farmers need the fields to dry out.
And with harvest already running behind its normal pace, another round of rain could make finding that next dry window even more important.