Severe drought conditions (D2) continued from late June into early July.  The combination of intense heat and a lack of rainfall, allowed extreme (D3) to expand to across all counties. Further, in eastern Custer County the prolong lack of rain resulted in exceptional (D4) drought conditions to develop by the end of the month.  Official observation platforms recorded their driest July period on record as rainfall deficits increased to below 2 to 3 inches in most areas north of Interstate 80.
Nebraska's power grid took hits as well from the extremely hot temperatures and dry weather. The need for power was so great Custer Public Power District was forced into rolling blackouts for the Nebraska Sandhills on the 18th, when emergency relief was implemented as irrigation demands rose.
By the 23rd, the Nebraska Governor declared a state of emergency in all 93 Nebraska counties, and ordered the department of roads to allow roadside haying for the remainder of the summer.
Crop conditions across Nebraska deteriorated significantly by the end of the month.  According to the USDA, 37 percent of the total corn crop, 38 percent of the soybean crop and 83 percent of pastureland was rated either very poor or poor.  Irrigated corn rated 55 percent good to excellent, while dry land corn rated 5 percent good to excellent.  Many livestock producers have begun to haul water to cattle, while deteriorating pasture conditions have forced producers to sell their herds early.
The abnormally dry conditions led to numerous range fires started by lightning.  Two major fires occurred during the month.  One in Thomas County which burned approximately 1000 acres, and the Region 24 Wildfire that included Keya Paha, Brown, and Cherry counties, where approximately 76,000 acres burned.
Extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought conditions continued into August.

Drought in HOLT, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00M
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2) set in during the third week of July and intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 53 percent of the land use in Holt County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in BLAINE, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 89 percent of the land use in Blaine County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached over an inch in the east and northern portions of the county. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in GARFIELD, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 76 percent of the land use in Garfield County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in BOYD, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 30.00M
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began in July intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 60 percent of the land use in Boyd County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached one to two inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in CHASE, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 43 percent of the land use in Chase County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached one to two inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in GRANT, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 20.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 91 percent of the land use in Grant County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in LOGAN, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 80 percent of the land use in Logan County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 1 inch. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 20.00M
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 66 percent of the land use in Lincoln County (2007 Census USDA) that was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in BROWN, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 30.00M
Crop damage: 10.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 78 percent of the land use in Brown County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached one to two inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing.  Lightning started a large range fire in the northwest portions of the county on July 20 which continued through July 30. An estimated total of 27,000 acres was burned.  Drought continued into August.

Drought in LOUP, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 89 percent of the land use in Loup County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 2 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in HOOKER, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 94 percent of the land use in Hooker County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in KEYA PAHA, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2) set in during the second week of July intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  A range fire ignited by lightning consumed around 44,000 acres of range land from July 20th through the 30th. Pasture conditions that makes up 73 percent of land use (2007 Census USDA) by the end of July were rated 69% poor or very poor. Range land provided limited grazing capacity. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in HAYES, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 53 percent of the land use in Hayes County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 53% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 2 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in KEITH, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 54 percent of the land use in Keith County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in CUSTER, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 30.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) and to an exceptional drought (D4) in most of the eastern half the county by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 63 percent of the land use in Custer County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches in the east. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in DEUEL, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 16 percent of the land use in Deuel County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached one to two inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn where in Deuel County cropland includes 83% of land use. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in EASTERN CHERRY, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began in the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Precipitation for July totaled 0.08 inches for Valentine, which was 2nd driest on record and represents a departure form normal precipitation of below 3 inches. Lightning ignited a range fire that consumed around 6,000 acres of range land from July 20th through the 30th.  Pastures make up about 88 percent of farm use in Cherry County (2007 Census USDA), where conditions by the end of July were rated 69% poor or very poor.  Range land provided limited grazing capacity. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in MCPHERSON, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 30.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 93 percent of the land use in McPherson County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in PERKINS, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 19 percent of the land use in Perkins County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. Cropland was hit even harder where land use is near 80 percent as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 2 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in FRONTIER, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 58 percent of the land use in Frontier County (2007 Census USDA)  was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached up to two inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in ROCK, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 74 percent of the land use in Rock County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 2 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in SHERIDAN, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up close to 79 percent of the land use in Sheridan County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 2 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in THOMAS, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. A forest fire, which started on June 30 in the southwestern portion of the Nebraska National Forest, consumed around 1,000 acres, and was contained on July 4th. Pastures that makes up 97 percent of land use (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor by the end of the month. Range land is providing limited grazing capacity. The drought continued into August.

Drought in GARDEN, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 81 percent of the land use in Garden County (2007 Census USDA)  was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached below 3 inches. Crop producers began silage of dryland corn. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in WHEELER, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2) set in during the third week of July and intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month. Pastures that make up 67 percent of land use in Wheeler County (2007 Census USDA) were rated 69% poor or very poor by the end of the month. Pastures provided limited grazing capacity as the rainfall departure from normal fell below 3 inches. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. Some producers began silage of corn. The drought continued into August.

Drought in WESTERN CHERRY, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began in the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Precipitation for July totaled 0.08 inches for Valentine, which was 2nd driest on record and represents a departure form normal precipitation of below 3 inches. Lightning ignited a range fire that consumed around 6,000 acres of range land from July 20th through the 30th.  Pastures make up about 88 percent of farm use in Cherry County (2007 Census of Agriculture), where conditions by the end of July were rated 69% poor or very poor.  Range land provided limited grazing capacity. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. The drought continued into August.

Drought in ARTHUR, NEBRASKA
From 01-JUL-12 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-12 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions (D2), which began the month of June, intensified to extreme drought conditions (D3) by the end of the month.  Pastures that make up close to 92 percent of the land use in Arthur County (2007 Census USDA) was rated 69% poor or very poor. The lack of rain limited grazing capacity and created increased sales of livestock as the departure from normal precipitation reached -3.0 inches. On July 23rd all counties in Nebraska were approved for CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing. Some producers have cropped silage of their corn. The drought continued into August.