The drought or near drought conditions affecting the U.S. Plains continue to have an impact on soil moisture levels in Nebraska.

The USDA says 83% of Nebraska’s topsoil and 72% of subsoil are short to very short of moisture, significant increases from January, with only about of fifth of topsoil and a third of subsoil containing adequate levels.

Despite the dryness, Nebraska’s winter wheat crop is doing relatively well.

36% of winter wheat is rated good to excellent, unchanged from last month’s update, with 46% called fair, 1% higher, and 18% rated poor to very poor, 1% lower.

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