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Nebraska Sandhills drought continues, forecast shows relief is coming

The drought in the Nebraska Sandhills continues as ranchers hope Mother Nature brings relief.

Jaclyn Wilson ranches near the northwest town of Lakeside. “Nobody really likes to see these dry conditions like they are right now.”

She tells Brownfield the drought began late last summer. “Then it kind of continued on this winter. We didn’t have a lot of snow fall. It’s been really warm and windy with above average temperatures. I think we’re starting to get some of that Wyoming wind,” she says.

She says while they need some rainfall, she does prefer the ground to be a little dry rather than wet. “It keeps the cattle health better. They still continue to grow. The grass isn’t quite as washy. It’s got a little kick to it when we have direr conditions.”

Wilson says they’re buying loads of hay from South Dakota to supplement their Red Angus cow-calf herd and enrolled in drought insurance. 

She says this week’s forecast is promising. “But hopefully we’ll get some rain. If not, I’ll have to be out there to work on my rain dances.”