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Debris in fields, wrecked buildings challenge Nebraska, Iowa farmers after tornadoes

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Editor's Pick Topical

April 26 tornado outbreak

Debris in fields, wrecked buildings challenge Nebraska, Iowa farmers after tornadoes

• Marjie Ducey Omaha World-Herald
• May 14, 2024
• May 14, 2024
• 0

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Farms recovering from Arbor Day tornadoes

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After the Arbor Day tornado churned through Mark Backhuus’ fields, he wondered whether he wanted to keep farming.

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Scott Saunders, with son William, is grateful for the assistance he's received at his Iowa farm after an April 2024 tornado. "It makes it a lot easier for me to wake up in the morning and not have to go out and look at all the damage," he said.

MORGAN SAUNDERS

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After an April 2024 tornado, Bill Armbrust found roofing, insulation, license plates, street signs and people’s personal possessions — a semi load of items that was hauled off by Douglas County roads department. He lost several 70-foot cottonwood trees on the property, where he's planted soybeans.

MALIA PABEN

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Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts

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Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus walks through a field where he had planted corn. The soil was so compacted he’s had to till for the first time and replant.

CHRIS MACHIAN, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

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Mark Backhuus loads seed corn into his planter before he replants. 

CHRIS MACHIAN, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

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The 2024 Arbor Day tornado broke Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus’ John Deere tractor nearly in half.

CHRIS MACHIAN, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

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Photos: Arbor Day tornado damaged farms in Washington County

Mark Backhuus looks at what remains of his grain bin, which was dragged by a tornado on Arbor Day 2024 for about 1/3 of a mile. It got caught in the tree line on a creek that runs through his farm.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

One of the grain bins that was damaged by the Arbor Day tornado on the Mark Backhuus' Nebraska farm. The tornado destroyed all the empty ones and only damaged this one because it was full of soybeans at the time.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Some of the corn that Mark Backhuus planted is poking through on his farm in Nebraska's rural Washington County. Farmers are racing to clear their fields of debris before their plants start to grow.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

The 2024 Arbor Day tornado broke Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus’ John Deere tractor nearly in half.

CHRIS MACHIAN, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Debris from grain bins and nearby houses that the Arbor Day tornado deposited in a creek is seen on Mark Backhuus' Nebraska farm.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

One of the grain bins that was damaged by the Arbor Day tornado on the farm of Mark Backhuus.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Debris from grain bins and nearby houses that the Arbor Day tornado deposited in a creek on the Nebraska farm of Mark Backhuus. He estimates it will cost $35,000 or more to clear the area. 

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Debris from grain bins and nearby houses that the 2024 Arbor Day tornado deposited in a creek on the farm of Mark Backhuus.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Debris from grain bins and nearby houses that the Arbor Day tornado deposited in a creek on Mark Backhuus' Nebraska farm. Any left on the fields could destroy expensive farm equipment.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Some of the corn that Mark Backhuus planted is poking through on his farm in Nebraska's rural Washington County. The Arbor Day tornado damaged buildings on his property and damaged his crop so bad that he is replanting.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus walks through a field where he had planted corn. The soil was so compacted he’s had to till for the first time and replant.

CHRIS MACHIAN, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

One of the grain bins that was damaged by the Arbor Day tornado on the Nebraksa farm of Mark Backhuus.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

The Arbor Day tornado broke Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus's John Deere tractor nearly in half.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Debris from grain bins and nearby houses that the Arbor Day tornado deposited in a creek on the farm of Mark Backhuus.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Mark Backhuus replants corn in his field.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Corn embedded in the ground on the farm of Mark Backhuus, in Nebraska's rural Washington County.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

The Arbor Day tornado broke Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus' John Deere tractor nearly in half.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Mark Backhuus loads seed corn into his planter before he replants his corn over the weekend.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Scott Saunders and his son William in front of some of the damage on their farm in Iowa.

MORGAN SAUNDERS

William Saunders, 2, helps clean up at the family farm near Manilla, Iowa.

MORGAN SAUNDERS

Some damaged buildings at the Saunders farm near Manilla, Iowa.

MORGAN SAUNDERS

Scott Armbrust said he's so grateful for the people who helped clean up his field that he's joined Omaha Rapid Response to help others.

MALIA PABEN

Seed corn Mark Backhuus is using to replant his corn. It will take several days.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Mark Backhuus replants corn in his field in rural Washington County.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Mark Backhuus replants corn in his field. It's the first time he's ever had to replant.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

Mark Backhuus replants corn. He and his son Joel tilled the land first. 

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD

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The 2024 Arbor Day tornado broke Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus’ John Deere tractor nearly in half.

• CHRIS MACHIAN, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

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Mark Backhuus loads seed corn into his planter before he replants. 

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Nebraska farmer Mark Backhuus walks through a field where he had planted corn. The soil was so compacted he’s had to till for the first time and replant.

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After an April 2024 tornado, Bill Armbrust found roofing, insulation, license plates, street signs and people’s personal possessions — a semi load of items that was hauled off by Douglas County roads department. He lost several 70-foot cottonwood trees on the property, where he's planted soybeans.

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Scott Saunders, with son William, is grateful for the assistance he's received at his Iowa farm after an April 2024 tornado. "It makes it a lot easier for me to wake up in the morning and not have to go out and look at all the damage," he said.

• MORGAN SAUNDERS

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