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‘Never in your wildest dreams:’ First generation Nebraska farmer recovering after storm

Severe storms swept across parts of Nebraska again this weekend damaging crops and farmsteads from wind and hail.

First generation, South Central Nebraska Farmer Michael Bergen says 80 to 90 mile an hour wind gusts wiped out most of his fifteenth crop. “Probably one of the best ones I’ve had so far. Friday morning, Friday night and Saturday kind of left us in shambles,” Bergen says. “Never in your wildest dreams, could you imagine what we went through though.  To lose structures that have been standing for 40 years because of this one storm is just unfathomable.”

The corn and soybean grower who farms in Hamilton County tells Brownfield he estimates a 10-30 percent loss in his corn crop. “Several fields are completely flat and haven’t pollinated yet and I have very little expectations for yield out of those. On the majority of the fields there is significant loss.  The top end definitely came out as far as yield.  I’m going to say the top 50 bushel is out.”

Bergan said he’s also cleaning up debris on his farm. “Two grain bins on our yard being destroyed and landing on top of the cultivator that was hooked to the tractor,” he says. “The $20,000 cultivator saved the $200,000 tractor.”

There were also reports of 70 mile-per-hour wind gusts and 4-inch hail west of Alliance in Northwest Nebraska that totaled crops. 

Michael Bergen:

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