Millet and Field Pea as Drought-Resilient Options for Nebraska Corn-Soybean Systems

By Rituraj Khound

Key Takeaways

• In regions where seasonal precipitation is unpredictable and groundwater reserves are depleting, millet and field pea offer more than mere diversification — they provide resilience to the cropping system as risk-buffering alternative crops. By integrating millet and field pea into corn-soybean-based systems, Nebraska growers can build robust cropping systems that maintain both profitability and productivity under high-risk conditions. 

• Diverse crops in the rotation lead to overall improvement of soil health. 

• Both millet and field pea are low-input crops. The net profit could be higher for millet and pea even in the current volatile commodity market. Corn and soybean prices continue to fall as of March 16. Earnings from millet and pea could help exceed (or at least offset) the total farm income due to low input costs. 

Drought risk is building across western Nebraska heading into the 2026 growing season, with limited winter snow and continued pressure on groundwater supplies. At the same time, rising input costs and declining commodity prices are forcing many producers to rethink how much risk they can afford to carry with irrigated corn and soybean.

In years like this, even small shifts in cropping strategy can help protect both yield and profitability. 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.