CAMBRIDGE, NE - Ranchers and farmers, the foundation of Nebraska’s economy, is reeling from an onslaught of problems caused by drought and fire.

The total extent of the losses is still unknown, and so are the consequences — the weather will be the key.

“There’s not a good answer for the drought conditions until we get some relief from Mother Nature and the rains come,” said Steve Wellman, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. He added that it’s too early to estimate the extent of losses.

Ground cover and pasture land has burned off, topsoil is eroding, fences and center pivot irrigation systems have been destroyed, some livestock have been lost and others have been scattered.

Topsoil is blowing away at a rate some farmers and ranchers haven’t seen in years. Also lost in the fires was some of the fertilizer and other soil treatments farmers had put on the ground, leading to lost investments and uncertainty about how much to do over.

To make matters worse, likely hundreds of center pivot irrigation systems have been damaged in the fires. It is not yet clear whether insurance will cover the losses.

Fencing was destroyed in the fire as well, leaving the cattle that survived to roam without boundary. The cattle are likely in continuous search of food after the fires burned pasturelands and bales of hay.

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