Cambridge, southwestern Nebraska | The fire we had covered 45,000 acres. You can still see to the line where it happened. I have fields that the fire crossed but left part of the field. Night and day difference.
It has been never side since the fire. That is not helping.
The first year no one raised much of anything. I fallowed, well, tried a rye cover crop but it didn’t grow. Drilled wheat in the fall. Next year 20 bushel. Put it back to wheat next year year got 50. Other wheat was running 80-90.
Had another field where part of it burned. Fallow the first year. Wheat was 20 where it burned. 60 where it did not. Same field. Last year was corn. 110 where it burned. 150 where it did not.
Guys around me with corn after 3 years that have corn was toast by mid July. No one knows really what to do. Rain might solve a lot if we could actually grow a good crop on it. The ground doesn’t seem to want to retain water.
Some have chisel plowed. Composted. Manure may be the best option but that hasn’t cured it yet.
I have heard it could take 10 years to get it back where we were. I know one thing, it has cost farmers involved in it millions. |
What to plant ???