Ag-Life

Ag budgets for 2024 are a mixed bag

Ag budgets for 2024 are a mixed bag

2024 Nebraska crop budgets a mixed bag

While field operation costs are projected higher for the 2024 Nebraska crop enterprises, some material input costs are lower than were projected for 2023.
The Innovation Hub at last week’s Nebraska Ag Expo in Lincoln featured the latest in ag technology like these robotic farm implements.

The Innovation Hub at last week’s Nebraska Ag Expo in Lincoln featured the latest in ag technology like these robotic farm implements.

Nebraska Ag Expo: Where ag meets innovation

If a product has anything to do with the production of crops or livestock on a farm, one could probably find it at last week’s Nebraska Ag Expo (NAE) in Lincoln.
The corn harvest in Hamilton County was a mixed bag. Yields ranged from around 200 to 280 bushels per acre depending on where fields were located.

The corn harvest in Hamilton County was a mixed bag. Yields ranged from around 200 to 280 bushels per acre depending on where fields were located.

This year’s harvest a story of ups and downs

Drought, disease and untimely heatwaves had a big impact on the 2023 harvest in Hamilton County, leaving farmers with a mixed bag of yields depending on location and the timing and amount of rain events.
Josh Layman, showman, (left), leads his lamb as a member of the Unified Showing 4-H Club, accompanied by buddy Tatum Terwilliger. Josh, one of the first members of the club, has honed his skills over the years and this summer was the lightweight champion in the sheep show at the Lancaster County Fair.

Josh Layman, showman, (left), leads his lamb as a member of the Unified Showing 4-H Club, accompanied by buddy Tatum Terwilliger. Josh, one of the first members of the club, has honed his skills over the years and this summer was the lightweight champion in the sheep show at the Lancaster County Fair.

Husker student opens opportunities for youth with disabilities

In 2020, Allison Walbrecht, a 16-year-old student at Lincoln Southwest High School, had an innovative idea — one combining her love for agriculture with her desire to provide opportunities to children with disabilities.But, she wondered, would it really work?
A track hoe begins dirt work on the site of the new CVA whole corn cleaning plant in Hampton. The facility will be attached to the existing silos , above, along Highway 34 and will be dedicated completely to food grade corn.

A track hoe begins dirt work on the site of the new CVA whole corn cleaning plant in Hampton. The facility will be attached to the existing silos , above, along Highway 34 and will be dedicated completely to food grade corn.

CVA to construct corn cleaning plant in Hampton

Big changes are coming to the Central Valley Ag (CVA) facilities on the south side of Hampton.
Morgan Bonifas holds a pot of her mums near the stage at the national FFA Convention in Indianapolis earlier this month, where she was recognized as one of the four national finalists in FFA proficiency in the area of specialty crop production and entrepreneurship.

Morgan Bonifas holds a pot of her mums near the stage at the national FFA Convention in Indianapolis earlier this month, where she was recognized as one of the four national finalists in FFA proficiency in the area of specialty crop production and entrepreneurship.

Student’s colorful crop earns national FFA honors

An Aurora High School senior has finished her fourth season of raising and selling potted mums with a flourish. Morgan Bonifas traveled with her parents Greg and Barb to the 96th annual FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Ind., Nov.
Mike Newland, who serves as the director of agriculture business development for the Propane Education and Research Council, stands next to the council’s display at Husker Harvest Days.

Mike Newland, who serves as the director of agriculture business development for the Propane Education and Research Council, stands next to the council’s display at Husker Harvest Days.

Propane promoted for multiple agricultural uses

With the rapid rise in energy costs, businesses across the spectrum are looking for less expensive alternatives and agriculture is no exception.
When using this new 27-row header constructed by Bish Enterprises of Giltner, the John Deere X9 combine can harvest up to 7,357 bushels of corn per hour traveling at a speed of six mph.

When using this new 27-row header constructed by Bish Enterprises of Giltner, the John Deere X9 combine can harvest up to 7,357 bushels of corn per hour traveling at a speed of six mph.

Giltner company builds 45-ft. folding corn header

Think of a standard 48-foot semi trailer moving sideways through a corn field and you’ll have some idea of the massive size of the new corn header created recently by Bish Enterprises near Giltner.
Irrigated cropland in Nebraska commanded the highest prices for cash rent in 2023, ranging from a low of $153 an acre in the northern Panhandle to a high of $350 an acre in northeastern counties.

Irrigated cropland in Nebraska commanded the highest prices for cash rent in 2023, ranging from a low of $153 an acre in the northern Panhandle to a high of $350 an acre in northeastern counties.

NE farm real estate value climbs 13.1% in 2023

Survey findings from the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Services (USDA-NASS) estimated that Nebraska farm real estate value, including all agricultural land and buildings, in 2023 increased by 13.1 percent to an average of $4,240 per acre.
Nebraska farm income sees an uptick in 2023 as compared to the last two years.

Nebraska farm income sees an uptick in 2023 as compared to the last two years.

Nebraska farm income projected to rise despite drought

Nebraska’s farm income is projected near $7.8 billion in 2023, according to a new report from the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) at the University of Missouri, produced in conjunction with the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.