For The Nebraska News Update Keep up to date with Nebraska news delivered to you via email. They fear that this summer's low precipitation and a possible dry fall may affect the 2001 growing season. Gov. Mike Johanns on Tuesday asked his Governor's Drought Response Team to come up with projections for spring water availability. He told Agriculture Director Merlyn Carlson to share this information with farmers, along with water conservation advice, so they can plan accordingly which crops to plant.
Some crops have lower water requirements than others.
Farmers can also choose to sow fewer seeds in a field, both to protect soil fertility and to reduce water requirements. He got a discouraging answer from Roger Patterson of the state's Department of Natural Resources . I think almost statewide. I mean, if you look at the storage we have available, it has almost all been depleted. Patterson was referring to water levels in reservoirs like Lake McConaughy.