Drought likely to continue in Nebraska in 2013
Experts warn that drought conditions could worsen in Nebraska in 2013 if dry weather persists
– Mon, Dec 31, 2012
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Nebraskans should expect the impact of the drought to worsen next year if the current dry forecast for the winter holds up.
Climatologists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's National Drought Mitigation Center said the effects of the drought will likely get worse in 2013 because the state's rivers and lakes have been diminished. Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming are all on track to record their driest years on record in 2012.
The drought contributed to Nebraska's worst fire season since 1919. Don Westover with the Nebraska Forest Service said wildfires burned more than 400,000 acres and destroyed 65 structures in the state this year.
Forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center
said the current drought will likely last until at least February. And
recovery from the drought will be slow because the ground is so dry.
"When we do have precipitation, very little will go to runoff," climatologist Brian Fuchs
said. "Those soils are going to act as a big sponge. They're just going
to take in a lot of the moisture. We'll continue to see problems of
stock ponds, smaller lakes and streams dropping."
Nebraska state climatologist Al
Dutcher says there is only a 10-20 percent chance that this winter will
be wet enough to restore moisture levels to normal.
The drought might also contribute
to more erosion and deterioration in soil quality. Fuchs said some
farmers are using corn stalks as forage for cattle and even baling the
corn stalks. Removing the corn stalks eliminates a valuable tool for
holding moisture in the soil and preventing erosion.
Drought center director Michael
Hayes said there is anecdotal evidence that groundwater levels have
already been declining in parts of the state. If conditions remain dry
in 2013, it could create widespread problems for well owners in the
state, so well owners are being encouraged to have someone check water
levels, especially for those dug before 1993.
The impact of the 2012 drought is
already evident in the amount of crop insurance payments the federal
government is paying. As of Dec. 10, those payments had reached $8
billion nationwide, and Nebraska farmers saw nearly $483 million of
that.
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Drought likely to continue in Nebraska in 2013
Since the drought is likely to continue in many midwestern states this is going to affect the whole world because of reducing grains and increasing grain prices. Anyone world wide who is in the lower 50% of income worldwide is going to be affected. And people who already are using 90% to 100% of their income for food worldwide will become even more desperate in the coming years because of this drought. We are one of the most efficient growers of food on earth here in the U.S. And when we can't grow food the whole world suffers.
Since the drought is likely to continue in many midwestern states this is going to affect the whole world because of reducing grains and increasing grain prices. Anyone world wide who is in the lower 50% of income worldwide is going to be affected. And people who already are using 90% to 100% of their income for food worldwide will become even more desperate in the coming years because of this drought. We are one of the most efficient growers of food on earth here in the U.S. And when we can't grow food the whole world suffers.
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