Drought in Nebraska, September 1 to 30, 2000

As the 2000 growing season came to a close, south-central Nebraska continued in the grip of the year long drought. Beginning in the fall of 1999, the combination of above normal temperatures and significantly lower than normal rainfall had given farmers reduced crop yields, placed stress on livestock and literally "dried up" pastures for grazing.Since late 1999, many areas are 5 to 10 inches below the normal rainfall expected during the period. Two regions particularly hard hit were near the Kansas border around Superior and from north of Grand Island to north of York. In the Superior area, the 2000 rainfall has been about 12 inches, or roughly half of the normal amount. Dry land crops were hardest hit, but irrigated fields also sustained yield loss along with the increased cost of the irrigation. The per-farm loss is estimated at about $10,000. Most of the losses were from lower corn and soybean yields, but increased irrigation costs and the loss of pasture and hay was also included. In fact, producers were granted the opportunity to cut the road sides for hay to offset lost hay needed to feed herds in the winter. The governor estimated the total effect on the Nebraska economy to be around 1 billion dollars.