Gov. Dave Heineman Thursday expanded early roadside haying efforts due to current drought conditions throughout the state.
The Governor has directed the Nebraska Department of Roads to advance the starting date for roadside haying to July 5, where the previous effect date would have been July 15, in the following 13 counties: Antelope, Boone, Buffalo, Cedar, Clay, Dixon, Fillmore, Johnson, Knox, Madison, Nance, Pierce and Saline.
On Tuesday, the Governor directed early roadside haying to begin on July 3 for the following 55 counties: Adams, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boyd, Box Butte, Brown, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy, Franklin, Furnas, Frontier, Gage, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Jefferson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thayer, Thomas, Valley and Webster.
Earlier this week, Gov. Heineman authorized an emergency declaration for statewide drought that allows state personnel and resources to assist with emergency situations and prevention, and allows maximum flexibility to the state to deploy Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency assets and resources as needed.
The Governor and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency will continue to monitor the situation throughout the state, as the drought continues.
