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Nebraska farmer needs a jump in soil temps to begin planting

Northeast Nebraska farmer Ed Lammers says his region could use a heat wave, which may prevent delaying the 2023 planting season.

“Our average temperature is 54 degrees.  If we had a couple days in the last 45 days, I would say that’s the most we’ve been above average and so there is still frost in the ground.”

He tells Brownfield there’s been some moisture to help recharge the soil profile. “There isn’t any tiles running or nothing, but the top three or four inches has moisture in it.  Underneath that, we’ve had a frost all year, and I can’t believe that much moisture went down in the ground.”

He says soil conditions are similar to last year, but right now, he plants to start on time in about five weeks.