From the Missouri River to the Wyoming border, Nebraska stretches across hundreds of miles of changing soils, climates and growing conditions. To outsiders, it may look like one continuous agricultural landscape. But farmers know that what works in one field may fail in another. Rainfall, soil texture, topography and markets combine to create unique systems across the state, making it essential for each farmer to adapt their practices to the conditions they’re given.
Differences In Soil And Water Management
“There are many different worlds here in Nebraska,” said Jordon Harms, a farmer in south-central Nebraska. “Different regions, different rainfall amounts, different soils.”
For Harms, that means learning to work with dense, heavy fields.
“We have a lot of heavy clay that holds a lot more water for crops to utilize, but it’s also kind of sticky, and it’s not real fun to try to grow a crop, plant or do field work when the ground isn’t just right,” Harms said. “You have to manage the water right. There are agronomic benefits to not overwatering.”
In the western part of the state, producer Austin Kniss operates in lighter, sandier soil, which means building systems around limited rainfall and dependable irrigation.
“Our average precipitation is only about 15.5 inches per year, which isn’t enough to rely on rainfall alone,” Kniss explained. “We get surface water from the mountains in Wyoming that comes down the river that we use to irrigate. We depend more on the snow from the mountains in the wintertime than rainfall throughout our season.”
Soil types and water availability shape nearly every management decision producers make, from water management to crop types to fertilizer timing.
“Water is literally the foundation of everything we do,” Harms added. “Without irrigation or rainfall, we cease to exist.”
Eastern Nebraska generally benefits from higher rainfall and soils rich in organic matter. Those conditions support high yields, but they also bring challenges. Excess moisture can delay planting, compact soils and increase nutrient loss.
Nutrient Application Varies By Region
Nutrient management across Nebraska is shaped by soil conditions, climate and local infrastructure. In south-central Nebraska, where heavier soils can help hold nutrients in place, Harms relies on fall-applied anhydrous ammonia.
“We do a lot of fall-applied anhydrous, which some people disagree with because you’re putting nutrients on before the crop needs it. But science shows that if you put the fertilizer on with the proper soil temps and the right conditions, it’s very safe. We’re doing everything to stabilize and keep it protected until spring,” Harms explained.
Harms noted that timing, soil temperatures and application conditions are critical, particularly in regions where spring fertilizer capacity is limited and weather windows can be unpredictable.
“Not everybody can use 32% UAN or dry urea. There’s just not enough physical product, and the infrastructure is not there,” he added.
In western Nebraska, Austin Kniss takes an incremental, precision-based approach. Rather than applying most nutrients at once, he focuses on matching fertilizer rates closely to crop needs throughout the season.
“We soil sample every year and run prescription fertilizers,” Kniss said. “We’re not putting any excess fertilizer out there. We only put out what the plant’s going to use.”
Across regions, fertilizer management is both an environmental and an economic consideration.
“We’re not out there applying fertilizer just because we want to,” Kniss said. “It costs us a lot of money.”
Statewide Stewardship
For Harms, stewardship is not about perfection, but about continuous improvement that comes from learning from past practices, adapting to new science and making thoughtful decisions based on local realities.
“We don’t know what we don’t know,” Harms said. “Most farmers today are trying their best with the information that we are given to do the right thing and manage things properly.”
He said today’s farmers operate with far more scientific data and environmental awareness than previous generations, and that most are committed to using that knowledge responsibly.
“Different sources of information don’t always have the same guidance, and that can be challenging,” Harms added, noting that no two fields or regions are exactly alike.
Throughout the state, stewardship takes different forms, depending on local conditions. In wetter regions, farmers focus on controlling erosion, managing drainage and protecting water quality. In drier western areas, stewardship centers on conserving moisture and preventing soil loss to wind.
“Wind erosion is a constant threat. We have to do something to keep soil from blowing,” Kniss said. Practices like residue management and winter cover crops protect fragile soils and preserve limited water supplies.
While the specific practices may differ, an underlying goal connects Nebraska farmers statewide: protecting land so it can continue to produce for future generations.
“Stewardship means taking care of the ground as best as you can,” Kniss said, “to keep it viable for generations to come.”
From managing excess water in the east to conserving every drop in the west, Nebraska farmers practice stewardship shaped by their land. In a state of many landscapes, caring for the soil begins with understanding the conditions where you farm.
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