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.

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.

Grain Place Foods President David Vetter (at left holding microphone) speaks to legislators from six states in the surrounding region at a tour of the farm and processing facility near Marquette on June 27.

Ashley Kroese, seen here working with students at a state FFA event, came up with the idea for SAIL Day while she was sitting in class at UNL preparing for her current career as a high school ag teacher. Kroese is working this summer as a seasonal employee at The Leadership Center where she will serve as facilitator for the two SAIL Days being launched in July and August.

A large deer population can mean significant damage to agriculture. (Photo by Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine)

This large stand of poison hemlock was found along County Road 12 just four blocks east of Highway 14 on the edge of Aurora. Hemlock growth like this can be seen all over the county and the region this year, due in part to the plentiful rain since the plant thrives in wet and soggy soils. Ingesting any part of the plant can be harmful and even fatal to humans and animals.

Jordyn Bader discusses her work with the ag-tech startup Marble Technologies during the Heuermann Lecture on May 29. She was part of a panel of ag-tech entrepreneurs that also included (from left) Shane Forney of Sentinel Fertigation; Chad Johnson of Grain Weevil; Jacob Hansen of ALA Engineering; and Jessica Korinek of Nave Analytics. (Cara Pesek/IANR Media)

A farmer takes advantage of a window between thunderstorms to do some field work south of Aurora Thursday afternoon. Local observers say that despite the frequent rain showers in May, planting appears to be nearly complete in Hamilton County.

Passing along a farming or ranching operation to the next generation can be a complicated process, but paying family members for their work on the farm, gifting land and assets to the next generation and then possibly leasing it back are strategies for avoiding pitfalls.

An Extension agent meets with a group of rural Nebraskans, discussing how an ignition engine works, in this undated photo. (University Archives and Special Collections)