A description often given, many times in jest. However, at times, like 2023, it is true.

Average rainfall for south central Nebraska is about 22 to 24 inches of rain . . . in good years.

2023 is shaping up to be not quite as good. Reports from the Little Blue NRD system give the following information for rainfall from January 1, 2023 to June 26, 2023:

Clay Center 2.2"

Oak 3.5"

Pauline 5.0

Rosemont 6.0"

Blue Hill 6.0"

Superior 6.5"

Lawrence 11.1

No reports from Nelson

      Thanks to a couple of rains in the last two weeks, a pond on the Darrell Buschkoetter farm northwest of Lawrence has a little water in it. Mr. Buschkoetter noted that last year the pond was completely dry and he used the time to rebuild the dam on the 70 year old structure. He estimated the water level is probably six to eight feet lower than the pond at full capacity. 

The year is almost one-half over (182 days) and the NRD site reported that in Nuckolls County 117 days had no moisture reported. Webster County had 125 days of no moisture. In addition each county had quite a few days listed with less than one-tenth of an inch reports.

Our general area was lucky in the last several weeks that some rain fell, but it was reported as "spotty." There were a couple of times when Lawrence received maybe an inch or more and just several miles outside of Lawrence, reports were maybe a tenth of an inch.

The general rainfall to date is maybe a little more than one-quarter of the normal amount to date. The result: wheat estimates are down, ponds in pastures are low, or empty, some farmers have looked into selling cattle because of the lack of pasture grass to grow.

Darrell Buschkoetter noted that a large pond on his farm was built by his father in the late 1950s went dry for the first time in his life. Wheat is not grown in the quantities it used to be, however, estimates given to farmers by some insurance adjustors run around the six bushel to an acre to maybe nine bushels an acre. The wheat is nowhere near the usual height and the wheat heads are smaller than normal.

Praying for rain is becoming a more common occurrence throughout the area.