Drought-resilient crop options for Nebraska corn-soybean growers
Nebraska is heading into the 2026 growing season with limited precipitation and groundwater resources. Growers are also facing rising input costs and declining commodity prices, forcing many to rethink how much risk they can afford to carry with irrigated corn and soybeans.
“In years like this, even small shifts in cropping strategy can help protect both yield and profitability,” said Dipak Santra, Nebraska Extension Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center. “Alternative crops such as proso millet and field pea offer lower water and nitrogen requirements, making them potential tools for reducing risk in water-limited systems.”
