This growing season has brought forth a series of unrelenting conditions that have made it very difficult to produce high-quality hay in Southwest Nebraska. Steve Rice of SR Farms Alfalfa Co. and Husker Hay Haulers near Wilsonville said his operation has received two back-to-back severe hail storms and untimely rains.…
Dawson County has been fortunate to avoid major rain or hail damage, which has allowed for crops to grow in excellent conditions in many areas. Don Batie, a central Nebraska farmer, has been utilizing Sentinel Fertigation to track his nitrogen levels in each yield zone of various corn fields. Batie…
In a matter of six weeks, parts of central and eastern Nebraska transitioned from battling severely dry conditions to receiving timely, consistent rainfall. Becca Monroe, owner of West Mill Flowers near Raymond, said the rainfall allowed her cut flower crop to bloom and flourish for all of her summer events,…
A Panhandle farmer said he's grateful for the abundant rain he's received this year but said with every rain comes a chance for damaging severe weather. Ross Miller, a third generation farmer of Miller Farms in Sioux County, estimates their fields have received 10 to 12 inches of rain in…
The reality of farming and Mother Nature is on full display in Southwest Nebraska. Just when he thought he was going to have one of his best years yet, Steve Rice of SR Farms Alfalfa Company in Wilsonville said one storm brought over 9 inches of rain and another brought…
A central Nebraska farmer is conducting various field trials this year, including one trial to study the impact of "good" nematodes on his field's soil. Don Batie said the "good" insect-eating nematodes eat insect larvae in the soil. The nematodes were diluted in water and injected through the chemigation port…
According to the June 15 U.S. Drought Monitor, Eastern Nebraska is in a D4 exceptional drought - the worst rating the monitor gives. Polk County farmer Randy Smith said this is the earliest he has put out pipe irrigation to keep is corn and soybeans growing. He said he utilizes…
With summer approaching quickly, West Mill Flowers near Raymond, Nebraska, is preparing their flower crop for the farmers' market season. At the Lincoln Farmers' Market, owner Becca Monroe said attendees can find Betty White the School Bus filled with buckets of cut flowers from their farm. Customers choose colors or…
Extreme drought has made for a tight hay supply, and SR Farms Alfalfa Company in southwest Nebraska is doing everything they can to get quality hay to customers. SR Farms is a family owned and operated business nestled in the Beaver Valley near Wilsonville. Owner Steve Rice said he strives…
For 150 years, the Batie family has defied the traditional norms of farm inheritance. "We don't do the traditional 'oldest son gets the farm,'" said Don Batie. "Our motto has always been whoever wants to farm is the one who should be farming." This philosophy has shaped the Batie family…