But predictions don't always come true. State Climatologist Al Dutcher said most parts of the state had no measurable precipitation during September, October and November. That has left some farmers heading to their local extension agents to talk management plans just in case, said Jerry Echtenkamp, research technologist at the county extension office in Concord. Area irrigated fields still have decent soil moisture except for topsoil, but conditions for dryland are starting to reach a level at which farmers should be concerned, one area crop consultant said. We need 3 feet of snow real bad.
Snow is what puts the punch into a dryland crop.
He explained that snow is better for soil than rain because snow insulates the ground and keeps it from freezing as hard. Still, others are cautious about assuming the worst. Dave Buskirk, a Hemingford farmer in western Nebraska, said the real indicator of a crisis will be if March comes without any rain. We haven't had a good rain since the first week of July. Haisch, who raises corn and beans, was holding out for a heavy blanket of spring rain.