Crops, Irrigation, Livestock, Programming, Youth

Celebrate Agriculture

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 It is a highlight for my girls to ride in the combine at harvest time; my girls have the opportunity to experience harvest with my Dad. 

Growing up on a small farm in Saline County, I appreciate the work of our farmers and ranchers. My dad still farms and my girls enjoy visiting the farm and I hope I can instill the same hard-working values and beliefs my parents instilled in my sister and I. This is part of the reason, my husband and I have starting raising a few chickens and have bucket calves for the girls to care for. With my husband as the Fillmore Central ag education instructor and myself as an extension educator for UNL, we hope to be teaching future generations the vast opportunities available in the agricultural industry. This week marks the time to celebrate agriculture so I have included some of the Agriculture Council of America’s press release in my column this week as well as some of Extension’s work in ag literacy2019AgDay 235x250.jpg

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) will host National Agriculture Day on March 14, 2019. National Ag Day is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for National Ag Day 2019 is “Agriculture: Food For Life.”

On March 14, 2019, ACA will host major events in the nation’s capital including an event at the National Press Club as well as a Taste of Agriculture Celebration. Additionally, the ACA will bring approximately 100 college students to Washington to deliver the message of Ag Day. These events honor National Agriculture Day and mark a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. A number of producers, agricultural associations, corporations, students and government organizations involved in agriculture are expected to participate

National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society. The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

  • Understand how food and fiber products are produced.
  • Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.
  • Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
  • Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.

You might be glad to know that Nebraska Extension has a team of extension staff working on programming to educate consumers and youth about agriculture and tell the story of the American farmer and rancher. This is being done through agricultural literacy-focused festivals and programs, development of beef-booster curriculum, quality assurance programs and many others. Through 2018, over 51,000 Nebraska youth and adults statewide made changes and/or reinforced knowledge of food safety practices from when food is produced until food reaches consumers’ plates. Their actions will influence both the safety of food consumed by them and others.

Nebraska Extension’s team finalized and utilized five questions to evaluate youth programming focused on Consumer Confidence topics. Compiled results from youth who participated in three state-wide programs (Animals Inside & Out, AgCiting Science & Ag Festivals, which Fillmore & Clay County youth participated) for over 5400 elementary youth in 2018 showed: 97% of youth stated yes “I learned something new” as a result of the program, 97% of youth stated yes “I know farmers make good choices to keep our food safe”, 95% of youth stated yes “I can make healthy decisions about my food”, 95% of youth stated yes “I better understand where my food comes from” & 86% of youth stated yes “I will share with others about agriculture”. Forty-five certifications were provided in 2018 with 2,879 Beef Cattle Producers completed Beef Quality Assurance Certification which is valid for 3 years. In 2018, 9,189 Nebraska Youth participated in the Youth for Quality Care of Animals. This program trains youth of the Quality Assurance practices for all food animal species.

To see more of the impact Nebraska Extension’s programs had in 2018, go to https://extension.unl.edu/impact/.

Crops, Programming

Gate to Plate- Women’s Farmers & Ranchers College Program

In 2014, I had the opportunity to present at the AgChat Foundation Conference held in Austin, Texas. Along with 3 other colleagues, we shared with the other 140 people in attendance on how Nebraska Extension is able to reach a large audience through collaboration and reaching beyond our own areas of expertise and programming. At that time, through the use of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, blogs and websites, we reached nearly 3 million people!farmers and ranchers college presents

At that conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Michele Payn, international winning author and food translator. Michele founded #AgChat and #FoodChat on Twitter, in April 2009. Tens of thousands of people from more than 20 countries participated in this highly visible conversation around food and farm issues.  This community nominated Michele as one of Mashable’s Top Three Twitter Users of the Year in 2009, putting agriculture alongside celebrities. Michele was a founding AgChat Foundation’s board member to grow the story of farmers, ranchers and agvocates in social media.

Utilizing her diverse professional experience in the agricultural, sales and not-for-profit sectors, Michele founded Cause Matters Corp., a company designed to build connections around the food plate, in 2001. Cause Matters Corp. focuses on addressing food myths, developing science communication, and connecting farm to food. In each of these core areas, Michele helps organizations clearly identify issues, understand their audience and grow solutions. Michele’s goal is to help you communicate “why your cause matters” – whether you’re a scientist, dietitian or in agribusiness.

Michele has earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation, awarded to less than 10% of professional speakers globally. She resides with her daughter on a small farm in central Indiana, where they enjoy Registered Holsteins, MSU Spartans and cooking. Michele’s resources and website can be found at http://causematters.com.

I’m excited to announce that we will be having Michele Payn in Fillmore County at the next Farmers & Ranchers College program on March 14th with a program for women, titled, “Gate to Plate”. This informative and light-hearted program will start with registration at 6:00 p.m., a light meal and program to follow. The venue will be Lazy Horse Vineyard & Brewery near Ohiowa, NE or at 211 Road 20, Ohiowa, NE. This program is for women involved in agriculture to learn strategies for sharing their story of agriculture to today’s consumers. This program is free, however space is limited so a registration will secure your spot and help our meal count. To register, call the Fillmore County Extension Office by March 7th at 402-759-3712 or register online at go.unl.edu/farmersrancherscollege.

The Farmers and Ranchers College Committee consists of Fred Bruning of Bruning, Bryan Dohrman of Grafton, Sarah Miller of Carleton, Jennifer Engle of Fairmont, Ryne Norton of York, Jim Donovan of Geneva, Bryce Kassik of Geneva, Eric Kamler of Geneva, and Brandy VanDeWalle of Ohiowa.

Crops, Irrigation, Programming

2019 Wilber Crop Clinic

There are many timely topics planned for Southeast Nebraska agricultural producers and agri-professionals at the 2019 Wilber Crop Clinic.  Host Extension Educator Randy Pryor said a wide range of presentation topics and commercial displays will be featured at this year’s event scheduled for Friday, February 8, 2019 at Sokol Hall in Wilber.

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Pryor said we strive to bring cutting edge, research-based information to attendees and with over 20 commercial sponsors we are able to offer this program free to clientele. The clinic will begin with registration, viewing of sponsor displays, coffee, kolace, and rolls at 8:00 a.m.  The educational program starts at 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Speakers and topics include:

  • Al Dutcher, Associate State Climatologist, on how El-Nino impacts will likely dominate the first half of 2019.
  • Jeff Peterson, Grain Marketing Analyst, Heartland Farm Partners, will discuss his corn and soybean marketing outlook and opportunities for 2019.
  • Tim Creger, Program Manager for the Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division, will discuss key dicamba label changes for 2019 and program update.
  • Brad Lubben, UNL Agricultural Economics Professor, will inform attendees key provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and what to expect.
  • The most interesting title of the program is “Don’t Get Caught with Your Plants Down!” by Tamra Jackson-Ziems, UNL Plant Pathology.
  • Ray Ward, Ward Laboratories, will discuss how soil health improves fertilizer efficiency and profitability.
  • Randy Pryor will discuss on-farm research being done in the area and assist with the door prizes at the end of the program.

For more information or for commercial booth space, contact Lou Hajek at the Nebraska Extension Office in Saline County at 402-821-2151.  For program sponsors and more details, see the program flyer at Saline.unl.edu or CropWatch.unl.edu. CCA credits will be available.

Crops, Irrigation, Livestock, Programming

Annie’s Inspired – A Three Hour Session for Farm Women Involved in Agriculture 

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Farm and ranch women are generating a cultural tide in American agriculture that is moving management, assets and opportunities to a new wave of farmers across the country. At Annie’s Project workshops, farm women become empowered to be better business partners or sole operators through networks and by managing and organizing critical information. Whether you are a woman working full-time in the operation or have off-farm employment, Annie’s Project is for you.

A new “short-course”, titled Annie’s Inspired will be held in four different locations in South Central Nebraska. This one-evening workshop is being repeated in Fillmore, Clay, Nuckolls and Thayer Counties, all running from 6-9:00 p.m. with a light meal included. Registration is $5 per participant and due one week prior to the respective program date. Program dates and locations include:

  • February 11th – Fillmore County Extension Office – Geneva
  • February 18th – Clay County Fairgrounds – Clay Center
  • February 25th – Compadres Mexican Restaurant – Hebron
  • March 4th – Nelson Senior Citizen/Community Center – Nelson

The workshop is designed to be discussion-based, bringing women together to learn from experts in human resources, basic crop production issues, and other topics of interest to the group. There will be plenty of time for questions, sharing, reacting and connecting with presenters and fellow participants. The learning environment will be relaxed and fun, providing a dynamic way to learn, grow and meet other farm and ranch women.

To register, the $5 fee is payable to University of Nebraska-Lincoln due 1 week prior to the workshops attending and can be sent to: Fillmore County Extension, 1340 G Street, Geneva, NE 68361. Statewide program sponsor includes Farm Credit Services of America.  Annie’s Project courses have successfully reached more than 9,000 farm and ranch women in 33 states. Linda, an Annie’s Project alumna says, “I took the class to gain a better understanding about agribusiness and how financial decisions impact our farm operation. I have a better understanding of balance sheets and the futures market…this class has improved communication with my spouse on concerns he works with on a daily basis.”

Course size is limited, so please register by calling the Fillmore or Clay County Extension office at 402.759.3712 or 402.762.3644 or for more information, go to: https://wia.unl.edu/anniesproject.  For more information contact Brandy VanDeWalle at 402.759.3712 or brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

Crops, Irrigation, Livestock, Programming

Managing Agricultural Land for the 21st Century

Current and future landowners and tenants should make plans to attend a free land management workshop sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. “Managing Agricultural Land for the 21st Century” will cover current trends in cash rental rates, lease provisions, and crop and grazing land considerations.

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This meeting is being held in Geneva at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds on February 12, 2019.  Registration is at 9:15 a.m., program starting at 9:30 a.m., and ending by 3:00 p.m.  The meeting is free due to the generous contributions of the Farmers & Ranchers College donors. For an accurate meal count, please,  please register by calling (402) 759-3712 by February 5th.

Nebraska Extension Educators Allan Vyhnalek, Aaron Nygren, and Jim Jansen conduct research and outreach in land management, agronomy and beef production. They will address common agricultural landlord and tenant questions. What does an equitable rental rate look like for my land? How do I manage a farmland lease? What should I expect for communications between the landlord and tenant? What does a soil test tell me? I hear about organic or natural production; how does that vary from what my farmer is currently doing? If corn or soybeans are not making money, should something else be raised on my land? What are key pasture leasing considerations including stocking rates? Who is responsible for cedar tree removal from grazing land?

“Landlords and tenants often struggle with land management questions.” said Allan Vyhnalek, Extension Educator and workshop presenter. “Both are concerned with fair treatment but it can be difficult to keep up with the current trends. Our workshop will provide participants with up-to-date information so they can be confident about their lease arrangements.”

This program is free and open to the public with funding provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under award number 2015-49200-24226.

For more information or assistance, please contact me at 402-759-3712 at Fillmore County Extension, Allan Vyhnalek, Extension Educator, Farm Succession, at 402-472-1771 or e-mail avyhnalek2@unl.edu, or contact Jim Jansen, Extension Economist for eastern Nebraska at 402-261-7572 or e-mail jjansen4@unl.edu.

Crops, Irrigation, Programming

Successful Farmer Series

My colleague, Tyler Williams in Lancaster County is again providing a series of programs for the successful farmer to start in January at the Lancaster County Extension Office or available online. All programs will run from 9-11:30 a.m. and be at the Lancaster Extension Education Center in Lincoln or can be viewed online at Lancaster.unl.edu/ag. A summary of the programs is provided below.

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January 4 – Cover Cropping 2.0 taught by Justin McMechan, Extension Cropping Systems SpecialistPaul Jasa, Extension Engineer sponsored by Sustainable Ag Research and Education (SARE).
Session Description: Utilizing cover crops has been a popular topic for many workshops and conferences. This session will focus on the next level of cover crops beyond the basics. Justin McMechan will provide an overview of pest and beneficial insects in cover crop systems, as well as strategies and practices for mitigation the risk of pests in cover crops. Paul Jasa will discuss the latest techniques to taking cover crops to the next level on your farm.

January 11 – Alternative Crops taught by Nathan Mueller, Extension EducatorStephen Baenziger, Professor of Agronomy  and sponsored by Farmers Union.
Session Description: Winter barley can be used for malting, as a feed grain, for forage, and as a component of a cover crop. Stephen Baenziger will discuss the benefits and needs for each of these uses, as will be the differences between winter wheat and winter barley production systems. Yellow field peas are another alternative crop gaining interest in the area. Nathan Mueller will share his knowledge on adopting this crop into your rotation.

January 18 – Spray Drift Management taught by Greg Kreuger, Associate Professor & sponsored by Nebraska Soybean Board.
Session Description: Featuring a mobile lab, this session will provide one of the most complete sessions on pesticide applications that can be found. Information will be given on the major factors influencing drift, an overview on nozzles that are used for broadcast applications, how to utilize the label to maximize pesticide applications, and points to consider when setting up to manage weeds. The session will also cover the latest research at the Pesticide Application Technology Laboratory located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s West Central Research and Extension Center which one of the world’s leading research facilities on pesticide application technology.

January 25 – Changes in Ag taught by Tyler Williams, Extension Educator& Hilary Maricle, Commonground Nebraska with Ag Tech Panel: Joe Luck, Associate Professor, & Kelly Maaske, Midwest Farmers Cooperative, & a local ag producer and sponsored by  Midwest Farmers Cooperative.
Session Description: One thing that doesn’t change in agriculture is the fact it is constantly changing; however, it is changing faster than ever. Keeping up with the changes can be challenging, but a necessary part of a successful operation. This session will feature speakers talking about changes in our weather and climate, as well as changes in the consumer and their demands. There will also be a panel discussion on changes in ag technology featuring University and industry experts, as well as local producers.

February 1 – Disease and Nutrient Deficiency ID with Kyle Broderick, Coordinator, UNL Plant & Pest LabEllen Paparozzi, Professor of Agronomy & sponsored by Nebraska Corn Board
Session Description: What’s wrong with my plants? A new twist on old symptoms. Nutrient deficiency and disease identification is a key component to successfully growing crops in Nebraska and Ellen Paparozzi and Kyle Broderick will cover standard diagnostics and new theories for identification and management of crop disease and nutrient issues.

February 8 – Ag Marketing taught by: Austin Duerfeldt, ExtensionEducatorCory Walters, Associate Professor & sponsored by Farmers Cooperative
Session Description: We will discuss how to develop a written marketing plan and understanding basis and carrying charges, using location-and commodity-specific information. The session will also feature the Marketing in a New Era simulator and the Grain Marketing Plan smartphone application. All attendees will be given access to a computer to follow along.

For more information on these programs, call Lancaster County Extension at (402) 441-7180 or go to Lancaster.unl.edu/ag. Cost is $15 for the series or $5/session at the door. Online viewing is free.

Crops, Irrigation, Livestock, Programming

Dr. Kohl Recap

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_7c93Kicking off the 2018-2019 Farmers & Ranchers College programming year with a full house was Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus from Virginia Tech. As usual, he did an excellent job describing global risks which affect us and how those risks will affect the agricultural industry.  International trade issues continue to emerge and it will be interesting to see how they play out. One of the things to watch closely is China’s “Belt & Road Initiative” which is an ambitious effort to improve regional cooperation and connectivity on a trans-continental scale with China and approximately 65 other countries. This is important to monitor because countries impacted in this Initiative account for about 30 percent of the global GDP and 60% of the world’s population.

In regards to energy economics, the U.S. is the world’s major energy producer. As there is a continued drive towards efficiency, there is also a push for electric vehicles. In fact, Kohl said that Germany and France plan to eliminate combustible engines by the year 2040 and by 2025, one fourth of cars in China will be electric. Since 80% of ag expenses are energy related, this will be a huge impact on the agricultural industry.

Dr. Kohl also stated that the 2020’s will be a decade with lots of change, not only with emerging technologies, but consumer trends, dietary trends and use of “big data”. In the Ag Commodity Super Cycle of 2007-2012, the approximate net farm income in constant dollars was $125,000 which allowed “anyone” to make it financially. From 2013-2017, during the agricultural economic reset, it was $35,000 forcing producers to tighten family living expenses and cost of production. (Data was taken from the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota.) He provided critical financial performance index for debt and risk and critical questions for critical conversations that should occur with one’s lender.

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With my background in leadership studies I found it interesting how more lenders are looking at the character of a client and the role that has in one’s success. Being an honest, ethical and trustworthy client is becoming more important and unfortunately there are character flaws of dishonesty being noticed such as using borrowed money for things not intended to be used for.  I like the adage, “It’s not the bad times that get you in trouble; it’s the good times.” With the past super-cycle, it was really easy for one to become complacent and want more things such as that camper or trip to Disney World, etc. but it’s not likely to resurface anytime soon.

Even with all of the challenges facing agriculture, he stated several reasons to be optimistic about agriculture. A diversified agri-entrepreneur can be successful with multiple income streams. Technology allows individuals to multi-task. Those young people who leave the farm/ranch to work in business or industry or on a different operation are better positioned to be successful because of the knowledge gained with a different point of view. Approximately 21% of American farms have no next generation coming back, so young people interested in farming have a chance to get involved. The younger generation is much more apt to collaborate and work as a team allowing them to help each other. Align yourself with positive people, know your purpose, picture where you plan to go, plan with a business & marketing plan and partner with the right people; doing all of that will help one accomplish more. His advice to young farmers is to invest in productive assets and live modestly. While past generations were independent in nature, future generations will be interdependent and work with people.

Contributions and support of area businesses allow Farmers & Ranchers College program participants to attend at no cost. For more information go.unl.edu/farmersrancherscollege.

Just a reminder of the other Farmers & Ranchers College programming:

2018-2019 Program Schedule

  • January 14, 2019** – “Partners In Progress Beef Seminar” Cow/Calf College at U.S. MARC near Clay Center, NE from 10-3:30 p.m., Registration at 9:30 a.m.
  • February 12, 2019** – “Managing Ag Land in the 21st Century” with Nebraska Extension Educators, Nebraska Extension at the Fillmore Co. Fairgrounds- Geneva, NE from 9:30- 3:00 p.m., Registration at 9:15 a.m.
  • March 14, 2019** – “Connecting Gate to Plate” with Michele Payn with Cause Matters, Corp., one of North America’s leading experts in connecting farm and food at Lazy Horse Vineyard near Ohiowa, NE with registration at 6:00 p.m. Light meal and program to follow.

 ** Programs are free; however registration is appreciated for a meal count. Please call the Fillmore Co. Extension Office at (402) 759-3712 one-week prior to the program to reserve your spot.

Crops, Irrigation

2019 Crop Budgets

In addition to the cash rental rates and custom rates released by Nebraska Extension and the UNL Agricultural Economics Department, the crop budgets are another helpful set of materials for producers to use. Agricultural Economists from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have just released 2019 information which includes 78 budgets on 15 crops, predicting price expectations for input costs for 2019.

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Information released from the Ag Economics department and UNL’s CropWatch recently shared a summary of the information.  In comparing several corn and wheat budgets from 2018 to 2019, total costs for field operations, materials and services have increased. For example, with dryland, no-till, continuous corn with a 125-bushel yield, experts estimate materials and services will be $6.89 per acre higher in 2019.

Pivot-irrigated corn with a 245-bushel yield would see an anticipated $30.45-per-acre increase in materials and services. In addition to estimating a total cost of production per acre and per-bushel cost, including opportunity cost for land use, each budget shows the cash costs of production. The budgets do not estimate returns. The largest increase in costs for the 2019 budgets as compared to 2018 is for nitrogen fertilizer, with a price increase of about 20 percent. Phosphorus fertilizer has increased about 11 percent. Fuel costs were adjusted higher with land costs adjusted slightly lower, based on the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report.

Material and service costs for the budgets were researched by a team led by Robert Klein, extension cropping systems specialist. Glennis McClure, extension educator in agricultural economics, and Roger Wilson, retired extension farm management analyst, worked together to format and publish the budgets. One thing to always remember is that the budgets are cost estimates based on assumptions and should only be used a guide and reviewed carefully before decision making by farmers.

To view the 2019 crop budgets, visit https://cropwatch.unl.edu or https://agecon.unl.edu/budgets.

Crops, Irrigation, Livestock, Programming

Agricultural Update & The Road Ahead

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Those of us in agriculture are no stranger to risks involved with agriculture that are taken every day, whether it is financial, production, legal, price/market or human resource risks.  While we can’t control everything, there are measures that can be taken to protect one’s operation and reduce risk. Each year the Farmers & Ranchers College hosts Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus from Virginia Tech who does an excellent job describing global risks which affect us locally and how those risks will affect the agricultural industry.  He will also provide tips for success and explain how past generations were independent but the importance for future generations to be interdependent and work closely with people.

This year, Dr. Kohl’s program is titled Agricultural Update and the Road Ahead. The program will start at 1:00 p.m. on November 27, 2018 at the Opera House in Bruning, Nebraska. Contributions and support of area businesses allow participants to attend at no cost. To save time at the door, feel free to register online.

The Farmers and Ranchers College Committee consists of Fred Bruning of Bruning, Bryan Dohrman of Grafton, Sarah Miller of Carleton, Jennifer Engle of Fairmont, Ryne Norton of York, Jim Donovan of Geneva, Bryce Kassik of Geneva, Eric Kamler of Geneva, and Brandy VanDeWalle of Ohiowa.

Just a reminder of the other Farmers & Ranchers College programming:

2018-2019 Program Schedule

  • January 14, 2019** – “Partners In Progress Beef Seminar” Cow/Calf College at U.S. MARC near Clay Center, NE from 10-3:30 p.m., Registration at 9:30 a.m.
  • February 12, 2019** – “Managing Ag Land in the 21st Century” with Nebraska Extension Educators, Nebraska Extension at the Fillmore Co. Fairgrounds- Geneva, NE from 9:30- 3:00 p.m., Registration at 9:15 a.m.
  • March 14, 2019** – “Connecting Gate to Plate” with Michele Payn with Cause Matters, Corp., one of North America’s leading experts in connecting farm and food at Lazy Horse Vineyard near Ohiowa, NE with registration at 6:00 p.m. Light meal and program to follow.

 ** Programs are free; however registration is appreciated for a meal count. Please call the Fillmore Co. Extension Office at (402) 759-3712 one-week prior to the program to reserve your spot.

Crops, Irrigation, Livestock, Programming

Landlord-Tenant Workshops

Nebraska Extension’s CropWatch recently announced a series of workshops that will help landlords and tenants with common land management questions that are often asked. Both parties want to ensure they are treated fairly and keeping up with market practices. This week, I’ve decided to share upcoming workshops and dates close to the area, including one we will be having in Geneva.

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Current and future landowners and tenants should make plans to attend free upcoming land management workshops sponsored by Nebraska Extension. The workshops will be held at nine sites across Nebraska this fall. “Managing Agricultural Land for the 21st Century” will cover current trends in cash rental rates, lease provisions, and crop and grazing land considerations.

Nebraska Extension Educators Allan Vyhnalek, Aaron Nygren, Erin Laborie, Ben Beckman and Jim Jansen conduct research and outreach in land management, agronomy and beef production. They will address common agricultural landlord and tenant questions such as, What does an equitable rental rate look like for my land? How do I manage a farmland lease? What should I expect for communications between the landlord and tenant? What does a soil test tell me? I hear about organic or natural production; how does that vary from what my farmer is currently doing? If corn or soybeans are not making money, should something else be raised on my land? What are key pasture leasing considerations including stocking rates? Who is responsible for cedar tree removal from grazing land?

These workshops will provide participants with up-to-date information so they can be confident about their lease arrangements. To ensure enough handouts please register at go.unl.edu/landlordtenant or call the phone number listed for each location. Lunch arrangements will be handled by each host location.

Registration at each location will start at 9:15 a.m., program starting at 9:30 a.m., and ending by 3:00 p.m.

Workshop dates and locations within our area include:

  • COLUMBUS: Nov. 20 at the Platte County Extension Office, 2715 13th St., 402-563-4901, attendees will be dismissed to have lunch off site
  • NORFOLK: Dec. 3 at the Divots Convention Center, 4200 W Norfolk Ave. 402-370-4040, lunch will be sponsored
  • BEATRICE: Dec. 19 at the Gage County Extension Office, 1115 W Scot St., 402-233-1384, lunch will be sponsored
  • HASTINGS: Dec. 20 at the Adams County Fairgrounds, 947 S Baltimore Ave, 402-461-7209, lunch will be sponsored
  • GENEVA: Feb. 12 at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds, Geneva, 402-759-3712, lunch sponsored by the Farmers & Ranchers College

These programs are free and open to the public with funding provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under award number 2015-49200-24226. For more information or assistance, please contact Allan Vyhnalek at 402-472-1771 or avyhnalek2@unl.edu, or Jim Jansen, at 402-261-7572 or jjansen4@unl.edu.