Wood: We have a long way to go in flood recovery

Mike Wood
Mar 27, 2019
Mar 27, 2019 Updated Mar 29, 2019

Burt County flooded fields — Flooded fields in Burt County, Nebraska.
Mark Jackson/Midwest Messenger

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

To say that Nebraska and the surrounding areas were hit hard in March with flooding is an understatement. The early assessment and extent of the damage is bad. I can’t say it any simpler than it is bad.

kAm}63C2D<2 v@G] !6E6 #:4<6EED 4@>>6?E65 =2DE H66< E92E E9:D :D E96 “>@DE H:56DAC625 5:D2DE6C H6 92G6 925 :? @FC DE2E6’D 9:DE@CJ]” t2C=J 6DE:>2E6D @7 Sc__ >:==:@? :? =@DE =:G6DE@4< 2?5 Sc__ >:==:@? :? 52>2865 4C@AD 2C6 AC@323=J 2 8C@DD F?56CDE2E6>6?E @7 E96 :>A24E E9:D 5:D2DE6C H:== 92G6 @? E96 DE2E6 @7 }63C2D<2]k^Am

kAm%96D6 =@DD 6DE:>2E6D 2C6 ;FDE E96 E:A @7 E96 :4636C8 7@C E96 DE2E6 W}@ AF? :?E6?565 4@?D:56C:?8 D@>6 9@>6D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D H6C6 EC2>A=65 3J >2DD:G6 :46 49F?<D E96 D:K6 @7 7C6:89E 42CD 4@>:?8 5@H? E96 C:G6CX] k^Am

kAmpD E96 H2E6CD C64656 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 C64@??64E65 H:E9 E96 @FED:56 H@C=5[ >@C6 C6A@CED @7 56G2DE2E:@? 2C6 3@F?5 E@ C@== :?] ~FC 28C:4F=EFC2= =@DD6D H:== 62D:=J E@A S` 3:==:@? 2?5 >2J 36 >62DFC65 :? >F=E:A=6 3:==:@?D]k^Am

kAm~?6 E9:?8 E92E :D 7@C DFC6 :D E92E }63C2D<2’D :?7C2DECF4EFC6 H2D 564:>2E65 3J E96 7=@@5:?8] u2C>6CD 92G6 C6A@CE65 D@ >2?J =@DD6D E92E E96C6 :D F?:>28:?23=6 E96 H@C< 29625[ 2?5 2== H9:=6 E96 A=2?E:?8 D62D@? :D C:89E 2C@F?5 E96 4@C?6C] u@C >2?J 72C>6CD E9:D J62C[ E96 8C@H:?8 D62D@? :D =:<6=J E@ ;FDE ?@E 92AA6?] %96C6 92G6 366? =@DE 6BF:A>6?E[ 52>2865 8C2:? 3:?D 7F== @7 2 72C>6C’D 7FEFC6[ 7=@@5 52>2865 7:6=5D DE:== 7F== @7 H2E6C[ 9@>6D C2G2865 H:E9 >F5 2?5 72C>D 4@>A=6E6=J 4FE @77 3J =@42=[ 4@F?EJ 2?5 DE2E6 C@25D E92E H6C6 H2D965 2H2J]k^Am

kAm%96 64@?@>:4 DEC2:? H:== 92G6 2 =2DE:?8 2?5 =:<6=J A6C>2?6?E :>A24E @? E96 CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D @7 }63C2D<2 2?5 H6DE6C? x@H2] %96D6 4@>>F?:E:6D H6C6 DECF88=:?8 E@ >2<6 E96 36DE @7 2 492?8:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E :? CFC2= p>6C:42] |2?J 4@>>F?:E:6D 92G6 DA6?E 4@F?E=6DD 9@FCD 2?5 >@?6J C67@C>:?8 E96:C E@H?D E@ >66E E96 492?8:?8 72C> 64@?@>J] $@ >F49 @7 E9:D H2D H2D965 2H2J :? E96 7=@@5D]k^Am

Mike Wood mug 2019 — Mike Wood, Midwest Messenger Publisher

kAm!C:@C E@ E96 7=@@5[ D@>6 4@>>F?:E:6D H6C6 2=C625J @? E96 3C:?< @7 6I:DE6?46 H9:49 H:== ?@H :?6G:E23=J E6DE E96:C C6D@=G6 E@ >@G6 @?] p?5 7@C E96 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E DFCG:G65 @C 2G@:565 E96 5:C64E AF?49 @7 E96 7=@@5 H2E6CD[ E96C6 :D ?@ 5@F3E E96C6 H:== 36 2 EC:4<=6 5@H? 27764E] tG6CJ 4@>>F?:EJ :? }63C2D<2 2?5 H6DE6C? x@H2 H:== 766= E96 64@?@>:4 :>A24E @7 E9:D 5:D2DE6C]k^Am

kAm~?6 E9:?8 }63C2D<2?D 5@?’E H2?E :D 2 A:EJ A2CEJ] %96J 2C6 92C5H@C<:?8[ C@==\FA\J@FC\D=66G6D[ 8C:EEJ[ 56E6C>:?65 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD] p?5 H9:=6 E96J >2J <66A E96:C 9625D 5@H? 2?5 DE2J 7@4FD65 @? 7:89E:?8 E9C@F89 E96D6 492==6?86D[ 566A 5@H? E9:D E2<6D 2 E@== @? 6G6CJ@?6 :?G@=G65]k^Am

kAmx 92G6 6IA6C:6?465 2 ?F>36C @7 7=@@5D :? >J =:76] pD 2 <:5 :? }@CE9 s2<@E2[ H6 925 F?36=:6G23=6 C64@C5 C2:?D E92E 42FD65 H2E6C E@ CF? H96C6 x 5:5?’E E9:?< :E H2D A@DD:3=6] xE 5C@G6 E96 H2E6C E23=6D 9:896C 2?5 9:896C 7@C 564256D]k^Am

kAmx =:G65 :? vC2?5 u@C<D[ }@CE9 s2<@E2[ :? `hhf H96? E96 #65 #:G6C 925 2 d__ J62C 7=@@5 E92E 7@C465 E96 >2?52E@CJ 6G24F2E:@? @7 >@C6 E92? d_[___ C6D:56?ED] x’G6 D66? E96 |:DD@FC: #:G6C 7=@@5 :? E96 s2<@E2D 2?5 }63C2D<2 :? H2JD E92E H6 H6C6 E@=5 4@F=5 ?6G6C 92AA6?] p?5 ?@H[ E96 A6C764E D6E @7 4@?5:E:@?D 92>>6C65 }63C2D<2 2?5 x@H2 :? 2 H2J E92E :E 92D ?6G6C 366? D66? 367@C6] x’> 368:??:?8 E@ E9:?< E92E x’> ;:?I65 2?5 E92E E9:D <66AD 7@==@H:?8 >6 2C@F?5] |J 2A@=@8:6D :7 E92E :D E96 42D6]k^Am

kAmpD AF3=:D96C @7 E96 |:5H6DE |6DD6?86C :? }63C2D<2 H6 2C6 E:89E=J 4@??64E65 H:E9 E96 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 H6 766= E96 A2:? @7 @FC 72>:=J 2?5 7C:6?5D 2D E96J 8@ E9C@F89 E9:D 492==6?8:?8 E:>6] %96 |:5H6DE |6DD6?86C :D 2 D:DE6C AF3=:42E:@? E@ E96 %C:\$E2E6 }6:893@C H9:49 4@G6CD $@FE9 s2<@E2[ |:??6D@E2 2?5 x@H2] qJ E96 E:>6 E9:D C62496D J@FC 9@>6[ >2?J 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD :? E96 s2<@E2D 2?5 @FC ?6:893@C:?8 DE2E6D H:== 36 562=:?8 H:E9 D:>:=2C 492==6?86D 2D C64@C5 D?@H72== :? E96 FAA6C A=2:?D 368:?D E@ >6=E 2?5 7=@H 5@H?DEC62>]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 H6 H6C6 9:E 92C5 :? }63C2D<2[ H6 2C6 ?@E 2=@?6] u2C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD E9C@F89@FE E96 |:5H6DE 2C6 562=:?8 H:E9 >2?J 92C5D9:AD] w625:?8 :?E@ E9:D J62C E96C6 H2D 2 =@E @7 F?46CE2:?EJ H:E9 E96 >2C<6ED[ =@H 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D 2?5 E96 %CF>A EC256 5:DAFE6D] xE :D E:>6 7@C E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? E@ 4@>6 E9C@F89 7@C 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD] %96 F?56C=J:?8 2>3:8F@FD E2C:77 :DDF6D 2?5 F?56CAC:465 4@>>@5:E:6D H:== DE:7=6 2?5 DFAAC6DD E96 C64@G6CJ 677@CED] x 5@?’E 92G6 E96 2?DH6CD E@ D@=G:?8 E96D6 :DDF6D 3FE x E9:?< :E :D E:>6 E@ 42== @? @FC 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D E@ 5@ H92E E96J 42? @? E9:D 7C@?E E@ 2DD:DE 72C>6CD H:E9 2 >@C6 A@D:E:G6 2?5 6?4@FC28:?8 @FE=@@< 7@C E96 ?6IE J62C] (6 ?665 2 H:?[ 2?5 @FC 8@G6C?>6?E 42? 96=A :? =:7E:?8 @FC 72C> 64@?@>J’D DA:C:ED]k^Am

kAm%H@ J62CD 28@ E96 {66 p8C:\|65:2 AF3=:42E:@?D 96=5 2 7F?5C2:D6C 7@C CFC2= %6I2D E92E H2D 9:E 3J wFCC:42?6 w2CG6J] tG6? E9@F89 E96J H6C6 9F?5C65D @7 >:=6D 2H2J 7C@> @FC 2C62 H6 4@F=5 4@??64E H:E9 E96 92C5D9:AD E92E 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD 72465 :? CFC2= p>6C:42] (6 C2:D65 >@C6 E92? S`_[___ :? 42D9 5@?2E:@?D H9:49 96=A65 %6I2D c\w C63F:=5 724:=:E:6D 2?5 96=A65 9@>6@H?6CD :? E96 D>2== E@H? @7 #@D6 r:EJ[ %6I2D[ H9@ 4@F=5?’E C646:G6 6?@F89 ut|p 2DD:DE2?46 E@ C6A2:C E96:C 9@>6D] (6 2=D@ D9:AA65 2 =@25 @7 DFAA=:6D E@ %6I2D 2?5 >256 2 G2? =@25 5@?2E:@? @7 4=@E96D[ 7@@5 2?5 ?646DD:E:6D E@ E96 677@CE] xE H2D ?6:893@C 96=A:?8 ?6:893@C 2?5 72C>6C 96=A:?8 72C>6C]k^Am

kAm%96 86?6C@FD :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 5@?2E65 DFAA=:6D[ >@?6J 2?5 2DD:DE2?46 46CE2:?=J 5:5?’E 6IA64E E@ 36 6G6C 36 C6A2:5] qFE ?@H H6 2C6 :? 2 E:>6 @7 ?665] p?5 H9:=6 E96 AC:56[ 492C24E6C 2?5 :?E68C:EJ @7 92C5H@C<:?8 72C>6CD >2<6D :E 5:77:4F=E 7@C E96> E@ 2D< 7@C 96=A[ :E :D ?66565] $@ x’> 2D<:?8 7@C J@FC 96=A @? E96:C 3692=7Pk^Am

kAmx H@F=5 =:<6 E@ 492==6?86 6G6CJ@?6 E@ 96=A :? 2?J H2J J@F 42?] q6=@H :D 2 =:DE @7 DF886DE:@?D @7 H2JD J@F 42? >2<6 2 5:776C6?46]k^Am

People are also reading…

Screwworm spreads into 4 more counties
Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Better days for beets
Iowa dairy farm engages visitors while expanding operations
Illinois brothers carry on dairy tradition
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits
Simple changes make the difference in cooling off cattle
Revamped program offers one-year contract for cover crops
Cereal rye smothers weeds
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Downpour floods fields in south-central North Dakota as farmers finish planting
Competition and camaraderie
Happy Rock 4-H’er delivers buckets of smiles in Jefferson County
Montana Department of Livestock and MSU Extension issue guidance after New World screwworm detected in Texas

kAm• r2== J@FC 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2= 2?5 2D< E96> E@ DFAA@CE 7F?5:?8 @7 6>6C86?4J 564=2C2E:@?D[ 8@G6C?>6?E 2DD:DE2?46 E9C@F89 286?4:6D =:<6 ut|p 2?5 E@ DFAA@CE C62= A@=:4:6D E92E H:== 96=A :>AC@G6 E96 4@>>@5:EJ >2C<6ED 2?5 :>AC@G6 E96 72C> 64@?@>J]k^Am

kAm(6 ?665 E96 C6DE @7 E96 4@F?ECJ E@ <?@H E92E E9:D :D ;FDE E96 368:??:?8 @7 2 =@?8 C@25] p?5 E92E C64@G6CJ H:== E2<6 >@?6J 2?5 C6D@FC46D 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6] xE 5@6D?’E >2EE6C H96C6 J@F =:G6 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ 42== @C 6>2:= J@FC 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D 2?5 2D< E96> E@ >2<6 DFAA@CE:?8 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD @7 p>6C:42 E96:C AC:>2CJ 286?52]k^Am

kAm• '@=F?E66C] x7 J@F =:G6 :? 2C62 E92E H2D?’E 5:C64E=J 27764E65[ 86E :?G@=G65 2?5 96=A J@FC ?6:893@CD E92E 2C6 9FCE:?8] {@@< @?=:?6[ 8@ E@ u2463@@< @C 42== J@FC 4:EJ 2?5 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D E@ 7:?5 @FE 9@H J@F 42? 5@?2E6 J@FC E:>6 2?5 6?6C8J]k^Am

kAm*@F >2J ?@E 92G6 6IEC2 42D9 @C 7F?5D E@ >2<6 2 5@?2E:@? 3FE 6G6CJ@?6 42? 7:?5 2 76H 9@FCD E@ 96=A 4=62? FA] xE 4@F=5 36 96=A:?8 2 72C>6C 4=62? @FE 2 D965 @C 4=62?:?8 FA 2 D>2== E@H? 4:EJ A2C<] xE 5@6D?’E >2EE6C H92E J@F 96=A H:E9[ :E @?=J >2EE6CD E92E J@F 96=APk^Am

kAm%96 |:5H6DE |6DD6?86C 2?5 %C:\$E2E6 }6:893@C H:== 92G6 2 3F==6E:? 3@2C5 E92E 4@??64ED A6@A=6 H9@ ?665 96=A H:E9 E9@D6 H2?E:?8 E@ 96=A] xE :D 7C66 E@ A@DE 2? 2??@F?46>6?E[ ;FDE 42== FD 2E g__\ggg\`bg_ 2?5 H6 H:== ECJ E@ 4@??64E J@F]k^Am

kAm• $92C6 J@FC DE@C:6D @7 9@H E96 5:D2DE6C 92D 27764E65 J@F 2?5 9@H 4@>>F?:E:6D 92G6 4@>6 E@86E96C E@ DFAA@CE @FC C@25 E@ C64@G6CJ] r@?E:?F6 E@ DAC625 E96 H@C5 23@FE H92E H6 92G6 366? E9C@F89 3J D6?5:?8 J@FC A9@E@D 2?5 DE@C:6D E@ E96 |:5H6DE |6DD6?86C 2?5 %C:\$E2E6 }6:893@C] %9:D H:== 96=A FD E@ <66A E96 AF3=:4 :?7@C>65 23@FE @FC AC@8C6DD 2?5 3C:?8 =:89E E@ 2C62D E92E >:89E ?665 >@C6 2DD:DE2?46] k^Am

kAm• |2<6 2 >@?6E2CJ 5@?2E:@?]k^Am

kAm– %96 |:5H6DE |6DD6?86C[ %C:\$E2E6 }6:893@C 2?5 {66 p8C:\|65:2 2C6 C2:D:?8 >@?6J E@ 2DD:DE 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD] %96 7F?5C2:D6C :D 42==65 “}t \ #:D:?8 p3@G6” H:E9 2 92D9E28 @7 R#63F:=5}63C2D<2a_`h] *@F 42? >2<6 2 5@?2E:@? @?=:?6 @C 3J D6?5:?8 2 4964<]k^Am

kAms@?2E6 @?=:?6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>Qm>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>k^2m 2?5 4=:4< @? E96 U=5BF@j#:D:?8 p3@G6UC5BF@j =@8@ 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 A286]k^Am

kAm– x7 J@F AC676C[ J@F 42? D6?5 2 4964< 5:C64E=J E@ E96 DA64:2= 244@F?E D6E FA 2E (2D9:?8E@? r@F?EJ q2?<] |2<6 4964<D A2J23=6 E@i }63C2D<2 #6=:67 uF?5^#:D:?8 p3@G6[ 4^@ (2D9:?8E@? r@F?EJ q2?<[ !~ q@I abg[ %6<2>29 }t[ eg_e`]k^Am

kAm– $9@H J@FC DFAA@CE 3J AFC492D:?8 2 “}t #:D:?8 p3@G6” %\D9:CE @C 32D632== 42A] t249 D9:CE 2?5 92E 92D E96 “#:D:?8 p3@G6” =@8@ H:E9 E96 92D9E28 R#63F:=5}63C2D<2a_`h[ 2?5 `__ A6C46?E @7 E96 AC@4665D H:== 8@ E@ E96 }63C2D<2 u2C>6C #6=:67 uF?5]k^Am

kAm– s@?2E6 E@ E96 #65 rC@DD[ $2=G2E:@? pC>J @C 2?J ?@?\AC@7:E E92E 92D 2 8@@5 C6AFE2E:@?] |2<6 DFC6 E92E E96 >@?6J J@F 5@?2E6 8@6D E@ H96C6 J@F H2?E :E E@ 8@]k^Am

kAm*@F 42? 2=D@ 5@?2E6 E9C@F89 E96 }63C2D<2 a\`\` AC@8C2>] yFDE 5:2= a`` @? J@FC A9@?6 :7 J@F =:G6 :? }63C2D<2 @C 42== gee\g`b\`fb` :7 J@F =:G6 @FE @7 DE2E6]k^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 >2?J @C82?:K2E:@?D E92E 42? FD6 J@FC 96=A[ ;FDE >2<6 DFC6 E@ 5@ J@FC 9@>6H@C< 2?5 H2E49 @FE 7@C D42>D]k^Am

kAm• !C2J 7@C 2 DA665J C64@G6CJ] !C2J 7@C E9@D6 27764E65 E@ 92G6 DEC6?8E9 2?5 DFAA@CE] !C2J 7@C 8@@5 H62E96C WH6 42== FD6 2 =:EE=6 H2C> H62E96C 2E E9:D A@:?EPX] yFDE AC2J 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 2=C625J 27764E65 2?5 7@C E9@D6 E92E >:89E 36 :? 52?86C @7 7FEFC6 7=@@5:?8]k^Am

kAm~FC 8C:E H:== 36 E6DE65 3FE D@ H:== @FC 86?6C@D:EJ 2?5 =@G6] !=62D6 C6249 @FE 2?5 5@ 2?JE9:?8 J@F 42? E@ 96=A] %2<6 AC:56 :? @FC C6D@=G6 2?5 DE2J 7@4FD65 @? 36EE6C 52JD :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am

kAm(6 92G6 2 =@?8 H2J E@ 8@ 3FE H6 H:== C64@G6C] ~? 3692=7 @7 6G6CJ@?6 27764E65[ “E92?< J@F” :? 25G2?46 7@C J@FC DFAA@CE 2?5 AC2J6CD E9C@F89 E9:D 5:D2DE6CP k^Am