By Scout Nelson
Bean fields and other crops were seriously damaged on August 2 by pea-sized hail and wind gusts reaching 60 mph that raced through the Mitchell Valley. Paul Pieper, a bean farmer northeast of Mitchell, said, "We were pummeled by the storm."
An inch-sized hailstone was also transported to Henry by the strong thunderstorm, according to the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and wind gusts reaching 65 mph were recorded in Harrisburg.
The dry bean crop, which had been blossoming, faced additional challenges as many acres had to be replanted after an earlier hailstorm this summer. “The bean crop planted early and watered looks good,” Pieper noted, although he added that the heat seems to be stalling plant growth and causing blossoms to drop. The beans planted later in the season are not faring as well. “They will need a long fall to bring them to harvest,” he said. “So, I think the bean crop will be average and not a bumper one this year.”
Despite the setbacks with the dry bean crop, Gary Stone, a Nebraska Extension educator, mentioned that “overall, the crops across the Panhandle are doing well.” He added that precipitation chances are expected to increase from mid-week through the weekend, which could benefit the corn that is currently tasseling and silking.
Irrigation water deliveries continue across the North Platte Valley, with Pathfinder diverting around 1,800 cfs and the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie irrigation district diverting approximately 1,400 cfs.
To assist growers with monitoring their crop’s water profile, the estimated crop water use for the week of August 5-11 was provided. Crop water use varies across the Panhandle due to differences in crop growth stages, temperature, soil type, wind, and precipitation events.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-mvburling
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, General, Weather