Watered down

Mother Nature gave farmers a break from the fall harvest this week but most farmers will tell you it was a gift they would rather not have received.

Heavy rains that lasted for several days left up to six inches of rain in some areas of the county with standing water and fallen corn and bean stalks apparent in many fields throughout southeast Nebraska.

As of Friday morning, rainfall totals for October at the Beatrice Municipal Airport were listed at 6.23 inches for the month and 38.10 inches for the year. In comparison, the total amount of rainfall for October 2006 was 0.98 inches with the yearly total up to Oct. 19 listed as 31.88 inches.

As a result, farmers throughout the county are finding themselves several days if not weeks behind as they try to harvest corn, soybeans and milo while many are working to plant winter wheat as well.

Steve Freese, who farms corn and soybeans approximately one mile northwest of Plymouth, said that from Saturday to Thursday afternoon, his farm received 3.5 inches of rain.

Noting that his farm was affected severely by drought earlier in the year, he said his farm has received as much rain in the last week as it received all summer.