More options open for producers after significant rain
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Like many fields in Hamilton County, this one, located just of Highway 14 north of Aurora, still had standing water in the corners thanks to rain. With up to 4.9 inches falling over the last week, the effect could be beneficial for farmers.
Areas in Hamilton County have received anywhere from 3.1 to 4.9 inches of rain from April 23 to May 6, according to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources website, bringing moisture to farms that have been parched since the start of a dry spell in December of last year.
There is no doubt the ground needed it and it can’t be argued that the positives were many -- but just how is this long-awaited rain affecting the growing season?
“We were so dry,” said Alan Anderson, general manager at the Grosshans International dealership in Aurora.
The previous stretch of high winds made the planting and start of growing season difficult, he reported.
“Now that we’ve got the rain, things are gonna settle down,” he continued. “We have humidity back in the air, which I think everybody’s noticed a little bit, it’s a very positive thing. I guess they used to say it was ‘a million dollar rain.’ I think this was a billion dollar rain for us.”
Anderson further stated that while water would have been there for the growing season from underground, the dry weather was concerning.
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