Ag-Life

Dust and heat waves blur the view of this tractor as it works in a field in northern Hamilton County on April 20. Planting operations were often accompanied by large clouds of dust as seeds were sown in the dry soil before the recent rains.

Dust and heat waves blur the view of this tractor as it works in a field in northern Hamilton County on April 20. Planting operations were often accompanied by large clouds of dust as seeds were sown in the dry soil before the recent rains.

Heavy rain storms alter spring planting schedule

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
“I’m sure nobody’s going to complain right now as if we got a good inch soaker!”So said Marquette area farmer Todd Danhauer, speaking last Thursday afternoon. But, of course, that was before some areas of Hamilton County received more than 3.
On his trade mission trip to Kenya in February, Giltner farmer Brandon Hunnicutt (right) receives gifts from Dr Gideon Maina, Vice Chancellor of Pioneer International University. The school was founded by the man who was the first Pioneer Seed dealer in Kenya and is known as the “Warren Buffett of Kenya.”

On his trade mission trip to Kenya in February, Giltner farmer Brandon Hunnicutt (right) receives gifts from Dr Gideon Maina, Vice Chancellor of Pioneer International University. The school was founded by the man who was the first Pioneer Seed dealer in Kenya and is known as the “Warren Buffett of Kenya.”

Hunnicutt: ‘There is really huge opportunities in Kenya’

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
The African country of Kenya is a long ways from the corn and soybean fields of Hamilton County. In fact, it took local farmer Brandon Hunnicutt more than 30 hours to get there by plane on flights that took him through Dubai in the Middle East.
This comparison of U.S. Drought Monitor maps from April 11, 2023 and the same date this year shows how much the drought conditions have improved over the last 12 months, especially in the western two-thirds of the state.

This comparison of U.S. Drought Monitor maps from April 11, 2023 and the same date this year shows how much the drought conditions have improved over the last 12 months, especially in the western two-thirds of the state.

Drought easing heading into planting season

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
“We aren’t out of the woods by any means on the drought. We’re better, but we’re just sort of hanging in there right now.”So says National Weather Service (NWS) forecaster Mike Moritz in regard to the soil moisture situation in our region right now.
Ag land values in Nebraska’s East Region, of which Hamilton County is a part, are the highest in the state, coming in at $9,730 per acre as reported by UNL’s 2024 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey preliminary report released last month. Ag land values rose 4 percent in the region, while values in the Northeast Region increased the most with a 6 percent rise.

Ag land values in Nebraska’s East Region, of which Hamilton County is a part, are the highest in the state, coming in at $9,730 per acre as reported by UNL’s 2024 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey preliminary report released last month. Ag land values rose 4 percent in the region, while values in the Northeast Region increased the most with a 6 percent rise.

UNL: Ag land values up, farm income down in 2024

News Staff
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
The market value of agricultural land in Nebraska is up in 2024, however, the state’s farm income is projected to fall this year, according to recent articles published by the Center for Agricultural Profitability (CAP) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Kevin Knorr, CEO of Volitant Technologies of Nebraska City, stands beside the DJI Agras T-40 sprayer drone he brought to display at the first-ever Nebraska Sprayer Drone Conference Thursday at the the Leadership Center. Knorr led off the day-long conference with a talk on new innovations in drone technology for the farm.

Kevin Knorr, CEO of Volitant Technologies of Nebraska City, stands beside the DJI Agras T-40 sprayer drone he brought to display at the first-ever Nebraska Sprayer Drone Conference Thursday at the the Leadership Center. Knorr led off the day-long conference with a talk on new innovations in drone technology for the farm.

Ag drones, the 21st Century tractor of the air

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
When farmers first began to till the Nebraska sod more than 150 years ago, a horse and plow were considered essential equipment. Then it was a gas-powered tractor, then windrowers, mowers, rakes and combines were added to the mix.
Certified Agronomist Orvin Bontrager of Aurora has more than 45 years of experience helping farmers grow crops. He said Hamilton County is well-suited for growing seed corn.

Certified Agronomist Orvin Bontrager of Aurora has more than 45 years of experience helping farmers grow crops. He said Hamilton County is well-suited for growing seed corn.

Seed corn a growing crop in Hamilton County

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The presence of the large Syngenta facility along Highway 34 west of Aurora and busloads of high school students heading to the fields each summer for detasseling are just two of many evidences of the importance of seed corn production in Hamilton County and the surrounding area.
March 17-23 is National Ag Week

March 17-23 is National Ag Week

Nebraska agriculture: A powerhouse of an industry

News Staff
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Editor’s note: In observance of National Ag Week, Sherry Vinton, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, shares her thoughts on the power of agriculture in the Cornhusker State.Agriculture is Nebraska’s number one industry and the heart and soul of our state.
A slide from the UNL webinar on the Fractal ag capital tool showing how the company helps farmers unlock the capital in the equity in their land.

A slide from the UNL webinar on the Fractal ag capital tool showing how the company helps farmers unlock the capital in the equity in their land.

Examining a new tool in farmers’ financial toolboxes

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
It’s often said in agricultural circles that farmers are land-rich and cash-poor. And as the value of agricultural land grows, that saying becomes more and more true all the time.
This graphic shows the area of interest for a recently completed computer model that will help local NRDs evaluate the impact of water pumping from the aquifer.

This graphic shows the area of interest for a recently completed computer model that will help local NRDs evaluate the impact of water pumping from the aquifer.

Blue River Basin Model project completed

News Staff
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Editor’s note: With the recent proposal to build an ammonia plant near Aurora that will use a large amount of water each day and the agreement last month by city and county officials to participate in a groundwater sustainability study along with the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, the...
Tour guide Tom Ernstmeyer, right, answers a question from one of the members of his tour group as it pauses before a 700 ton press on the floor of the Case IH factory in Grand Island.

Tour guide Tom Ernstmeyer, right, answers a question from one of the members of his tour group as it pauses before a 700 ton press on the floor of the Case IH factory in Grand Island.

Hamilton County Corn Growers tour Case IH plant

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
People who live in south-central Nebraska get to see where some of their food comes from all the time. A short trip to the country will take them past corn and soybean fields, hog operations and pastures of cattle providing meat and milk products.