Recent snowfall 'better than nothing'

The recent snow fall is “better than nothing” for the drought, according to John K. Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmer’s Union—although he would prefer a good, soaking rain.

At least the state has been targeted by fronts that produce some moisture.

From the first of March to the beginning of June is when Nebraska generally receives substantial rainfall. If rain does not hit the region during those times, chances are nowhere near as strong over the rest of the year.

Hanson added that the area needs long, steady rains to soak the pastures and fields.

Hard rains tend to have a lot of run-off, so it doesn’t soak in. The disadvantage of snow is that if there are strong winds, the snow tends to pile up around trees and fence lines, and it might not penetrate where it is needed most.

Hansen said that at least the recent snow has helped to build up top soil a foot or so--and it is going to soak in. He added that the system that came through was the most productive since last June, and the farmers welcome any break from the drought.

“We will take moisture any way that we can get it,” Hansen said, “but we have a long way to go to get sub soil where it needs to be.”

The western part of Nebraska is short two to four inches of rain and that is damaging to the soil.

“We are grateful for what we have gotten, but we have a long way to go before we get out of the draught status that we are in, and a really long way to go to get out of sub soil status that we are in. It will take a lot of soaking rains to improve that tremendously,” Hansen said.

The nature of this spring is the fact that it has been cool and it is late, and that is good; according to Hansen, unlike last year when it was an early, warm spring. The warm, early spring of 2012 used up a lot of subsoil moisture. The advantage to a late spring when it’s dry is that it is not using up subsoil moisture early.

“We haven’t drawn down on sub soil moisture early this spring, especially compared to last spring. The late, cool spring helps conserve moisture,” Hansen said.

He added that 2012 was the hottest and driest year in Nebraska on record, and that the farmers are waiting to see if 2013 will be the same as last year. Hansen said that he hopes to get rains and that the draught conditions moderate; if we go back to last year’s hot and dry weather, he is afraid that there are going to be more conflicts between water users.

Hansen said that the reservoirs are down because they are not getting run off from snow melt because the snow pack is down, but that some progress will be seen from the moisture that the area has gotten; if the reservoir starts off slow, it is trouble. “Across the board, we start in a much more vulnerable position,” Hansen said.