Ag-Life

Invented in Aurora, the Grain Weevil is about to make its Midwest debut through a system of 10 independent partner contractors who will provide the robot’s services on the farm and then sell the first consumer units to farmers when they hit the market next May.

Invented in Aurora, the Grain Weevil is about to make its Midwest debut through a system of 10 independent partner contractors who will provide the robot’s services on the farm and then sell the first consumer units to farmers when they hit the market next May.

Grain Weevil soon to ‘keep boots out of bins’

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
During this National Farm Safety and Health Week the emphasis is on the prevention of injury and fatal accidents that are so common to working in agriculture.
The new hoop building grain receiving facility at Murphy constructed this summer by Aurora Coop has a capacity of two million bushes and will be used to store soybeans from the fall harvest this year. Below, the pit and leg can unload trucks at a rate of 30,000 bushels per hour.

The new hoop building grain receiving facility at Murphy constructed this summer by Aurora Coop has a capacity of two million bushes and will be used to store soybeans from the fall harvest this year. Below, the pit and leg can unload trucks at a rate of 30,000 bushels per hour.

Aurora Co-op Murphy receiving facility ready for harvest

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Visitors to Aurora Cooperative’s open house last week for its new grain receiving facility at the tiny unincorporated community of Murphy, a few miles west of Aurora, were no doubt awed by the size of the place.
U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts speaks to Hamilton County Corn Growers at a dinner that followed the annual plot tour last Monday. He talked about the chances for a new U.S. farm bill, government regulations and the need to step up international trade efforts.

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts speaks to Hamilton County Corn Growers at a dinner that followed the annual plot tour last Monday. He talked about the chances for a new U.S. farm bill, government regulations and the need to step up international trade efforts.

Ricketts says D.C. should operate more like NE

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts told an audience in Aurora last week that if there’s one thing he’s learned in his 19 months of serving in the nation’s capital it is that Washington, D.C. doesn’t operate like Nebraska. Far from it!
Andrew Bish stands next to one of the FiberCut Hemp Harvesters built by his company at the plant near Giltner. One of these same units was put on display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. earlier this year as part of a national machinery show.

Andrew Bish stands next to one of the FiberCut Hemp Harvesters built by his company at the plant near Giltner. One of these same units was put on display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. earlier this year as part of a national machinery show.

Locally made hemp harvester goes to National Mall

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
A piece of machinery manufactured on the edge of a Giltner area cornfield made its way to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.
Hamilton County corn grower Jason Lewis was recently elected to a three-year term on the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Board. He currently serves on an NCGA Action Team that works to grow ag literacy in the general population.

Hamilton County corn grower Jason Lewis was recently elected to a three-year term on the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Board. He currently serves on an NCGA Action Team that works to grow ag literacy in the general population.

Lewis elected to NCGA Corn Board

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Hamilton County corn growers are continuing their legacy of providing leadership to their peers on both the state and national levels of the corn industry.
A comparison of National Drought Monitor maps from Aug. 6 of this year and Aug. 8 of 2023 shows the marked improvement in drought conditions in the eastern two-thirds of Nebraska over the past 12 months. Hamilton County went from being mostly in highest (D4) drought category last year to showing no drought at all last week.

A comparison of National Drought Monitor maps from Aug. 6 of this year and Aug. 8 of 2023 shows the marked improvement in drought conditions in the eastern two-thirds of Nebraska over the past 12 months. Hamilton County went from being mostly in highest (D4) drought category last year to showing no drought at all last week.

Saying goodbye to the drought of 2022-23

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Many local irrigation systems that got a workout throughout most of the growing season last year just started spraying water on crops recently and Nebraska’s two-year drought appears to be becoming just an unpleasant memory.
Jim Pillen, then a younger businessman, stands outside one of his hog operations north of Monroe in 2003. Some nearby residents and environmental advocates were then protesting Pillen’s plan to build large hog operations near a historic church near Lindsay. Pillen was then growing his company to become the largest pork producer in the state, and one of the biggest in the country. (Photo by Kiley Cruse of the Omaha World-Herald.)

Jim Pillen, then a younger businessman, stands outside one of his hog operations north of Monroe in 2003. Some nearby residents and environmental advocates were then protesting Pillen’s plan to build large hog operations near a historic church near Lindsay. Pillen was then growing his company to become the largest pork producer in the state, and one of the biggest in the country. (Photo by Kiley Cruse of the Omaha World-Herald.)

Pillen’s Rise: Building a Nebraska pork empire

News Staff
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
In July, Jim Pillen flew to Vietnam for his first trade mission as Nebraska’s governor. Pillen was there in part to promote the state’s livestock exports, such as pork. As demand for pork stalls in the U.S., Vietnam has become a key market.
Volunteer Swine Show Supt. Duane Danielson (left) and his brother Darin work to coax a hog into position for a photo with 4-H Intermediate Showmanship Reserve Champion Paxton Janzen Saturday morning.

Volunteer Swine Show Supt. Duane Danielson (left) and his brother Darin work to coax a hog into position for a photo with 4-H Intermediate Showmanship Reserve Champion Paxton Janzen Saturday morning.

Hamilton County Fair: Powered by volunteers

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
“Something like this — this fair — is not possible without all the help, from both volunteers and the sponsors.”So said Hamilton County Ag Society President Justin Hermanson in a pre-fair interview more than a week ago.
Amber Sciligo, director of science programs for the Organic Center headquartered in Washington, D.C. speaks to attendees at Grain Place Foundation’s annual Field Day near Marquette on July 13.

Amber Sciligo, director of science programs for the Organic Center headquartered in Washington, D.C. speaks to attendees at Grain Place Foundation’s annual Field Day near Marquette on July 13.

The Organic Center: Promoting organic, regenerative ag

Ron Burtz
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
With the U.S. market for certified organic foods having recently topped $70 billion, governments at all levels are finally starting to pay more attention and give more support to this marketing label.
Agland values in Nebraska increased this year anywhere from 2 to 7 percent, with the East Region, which includes Hamilton County, seeing the highest land values at an average of $9,730 per acre. The figures are from an annual survey of Nebraska farmland values conducted by the Center for Agricultural Profitability at UNL.

Agland values in Nebraska increased this year anywhere from 2 to 7 percent, with the East Region, which includes Hamilton County, seeing the highest land values at an average of $9,730 per acre. The figures are from an annual survey of Nebraska farmland values conducted by the Center for Agricultural Profitability at UNL.

Nebraska ag land values up 5%, cash rents moderating

News Staff
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
For the fifth consecutive year, the average all-land value of agricultural land in Nebraska increased, reaching $4,015 per acre in the 12-month period ending Feb. 1, 2024, according to the final report from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2023-2024 Farm Real Estate Market Survey.