Severe Drought Still Looming Problem For Holt County And State

Moderate drought and severe drought conditions are still a huge problem in the Holt County area.

Last spring things were looking dismal as a severe lack of winter moisture was looking to bloom into a severe crisis. Timely rains in the spring alleviated conditions into May, June and into July when the conditions turned dry again.

The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of Aug. 23, shows most of Holt County as in severe drought and parts of eastern Holt County in the extreme drought category.

The severe drought covers down to the Holt County border and west into Cherry County. Heading east, the severe drought moves to the Nebraska-Iowa state line.

An area of exceptional drought still looms across Hitchcock, Hayes, Perkins, Keith and Deuel counties in Nebraska's southwest corner.

Hot and dry conditions prevailed from eastern Wyoming and Nebraska southward through western Kansas. In the past 60 days, much of that area has received 35-60 percent of normal rainfall.

Periods of excessive heat have ramped up the effects of the subnormal precipitation, and even areas with near-normal rainfall have seen conditions dry out due to the heat. 

Soil moisture content was short to very short across many areas of the state. 

For the week ending Aug. 28, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 46 percent very short, 35 percent short, 19 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 42 percent very short, 37 percent short, 21 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Field Crops Report: Corn condition rated 17 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 29 percent good and 10 percent excellent. Corn dough was 89 percent, near 92 percent last year and 93 percent for the five-year average.

Dented was 59 percent, near 61 percent last year and 58 percent average. Mature was 8 percent, near 7 percent last year and 5 percent average.

Soybean condition rated 12 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 34 percent good and 9 percent excellent.

Soybeans setting pods was 98 percent, near 96 percent last year and 95 percent average. Dropping leaves was 10 percent, near 11 percent last year and 8 percent average.

Sorghum condition rated 35 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 15 percent good and 5 percent excellent.

Sorghum headed was 85 percent, behind 99 percent last year and 98 percent average. Coloring was 33 percent, well behind 57 percent last year, and behind 49 percent average. Mature was 1 percent, near 2 percent both last year and average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 55 percent good and 5 percent excellent.

Dry edible beans setting pods was 86 percent, behind 94 percent last year. Dropping leaves was 5 percent, behind 20 percent last year.

Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 52 percent very poor, 26 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 6 percent good and 1 percent excellent.

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