2024: A look back at the year in local agriculture

Rain water, ground water, international trade, innovations, grab 2024 headlines

  • A couple of generations ago farmers used to brag about having corn that was “knee-high by the 4th,” meaning by the 4th of July. However, with modern hybrids and farming techniques it’s often possible to have corn that is that high by the 4th of June, as evidenced by the photo taken along Highway 14 south of Marquette June 4. In the foreground the field also shows evidence of the washing of heavy rains that hit the area.
    A couple of generations ago farmers used to brag about having corn that was “knee-high by the 4th,” meaning by the 4th of July. However, with modern hybrids and farming techniques it’s often possible to have corn that is that high by the 4th of June, as evidenced by the photo taken along Highway 14 south of Marquette June 4. In the foreground the field also shows evidence of the washing of heavy rains that hit the area.

    Looking back on ANR’s Ag Life pages over the year now past, it was this area’s dramatic recovery from the drought of 2022-23 that garnered many of the headlines in 2024. However, the state of the Ogalala Aquifer, advances and accolades for locally produced farm equipment and local ag producers’ involvement in helping foster international trade of Nebraska crops were also topics of discussion in Ag…