Part way through the summer, irrigating using surface water was put to a halt because of the drought. For more than 1,100 farmers in Nebraska, that meant no more water to their crops. The saving grace for our state was that the marching orders affected only irrigation systems that used surface water, mostly rivers and creeks, and not systems that used wells. And more than 90 percent of Nebraska’s irrigation uses well water.

No doubt though, this was the worst drought farmers had seen in more than 25 years and when you mention the farm conditions of the 80s to Nebraskans, they shake their head and “remember the hard times”. So in comparison this year was really bad.

As I drive around to do my everyday activities such as running kids to school and/or daycare, going to the bank (which is 18 miles away!), or getting gas at the co-op, I like to look around at things I see on a regular basis that other folks might not know about.

This is one of those things. It’s an irrigation stop. Meaning, when the center pivot gets to the end of its path, it’s programmed to go back across the field. But every once-in-a-while you get a runaway pivot. These metal bars are placed at the edge of a field to stop the pivot tires and prevent them from ending up in a ditch or on the highway or in a creek.

To some, it may just look like an old football goalpost hanging out in the middle of nowhere but they really do serve a purpose.

Until we walk again …