After the extreme drought conditions across the Midwest in 2012, it appears that alfalfa acres—both planted and harvested—rebounded in 2013. This is welcome news to many alfalfa growers, who would prefer a less volatile market that the availability of more alfalfa brings. Traditionally, growers prefer alfalfa due to its low input costs. Nebraska’s climate is […]
Landowners have many decisions to make when it comes to their land, the most important of which is deciding who will farm it. Do they farm it themselves, or should they offer it for lease? The options vary depending upon the situation of individual landowners. Lease agreements may be the best option for some landowners, […]
Successful landowners know what it takes to build and maintain good working relationships with the producers who farm their land. With the high land values and cash rental rates of the last decade, it’s even more important for both landowners and tenants to go into their business relationship with clear goals and a well-defined agreement […]
Nebraska is known for its Cornhuskers, but perhaps a more likely mascot would be the Irrigators? According to the results of the 2007 Census of Agriculture, Nebraska is ranked first in the entire nation for total irrigated acres, even falling ahead of the state of California. The Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years, […]
As with any industry, technology is changing the way farmers manage nearly every aspect of their farming operations. New developments in technology are making it possible for farmers to be more productive, from the seeds they put into the ground, to the machinery they use to plant and harvest their crops, to the data they […]
Nebraska landowners and farmers are always on the lookout for trends and forecasts of what they can expect for weather, commodity prices, and farmland values. The prospect of rising interest rates and lower commodity prices have many wondering if the high land value they’ve grown accustomed to over the last ten years is about to […]
Demand continues to grow in the nation for organically produced foods and grains, and many farmers and landowners across the nation are joining the growing organic trend. Nebraska farmers have also been taking notice. The increasing demand for certified organic products and food are opening up new markets, and many Nebraska farmers are stepping in […]
Four major crop reports were released on January 10th by the USDA. More bullish-than-expected data in the corn market came as a surprise to many market analysts after largely bearish predictions prior to the release of the reports. On the whole, the USDA reflected higher than anticipated estimated corn stocks, neutral bean stocks, and bearish […]
After multiple short-term extensions on the Farm Bill—the latest of which expired on December 31st—lawmakers are set to resume the next legislative session, and USDA secretary Tom Vilsack is confident that a deal can be reached on an updated version, and that it can be put up to a vote this month. Conferees on the […]
As we roll into 2014, farmers and landowners are looking ahead to see what the new year will mean for commodity prices and land values. One of the main indicators affecting these prices is the interest rate. Producers wonder whether they will see an increase in interest rates in 2014, and if so, how that […]
