Nebraska FARMcast - Farm and Ranch Management

Anastasia Meyer, extension educator in agricultural economics with the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, breaks down what belongs in a written farm or ranch lease and why it matters, especially for landowners who recently inherited ground. She covers the difference between cash rent and crop share arrangements, what Nebraska's verbal lease law require...

With: Allan Vyhnalek, Nebraska Extension Educator Emeritus. Are you a landowner thinking about the future of your operation, but don’t have a clear successor? This episode will walk you through how to apply for the Nebraska Land Link program as a landowner. It covers what information you need, how the matching process works, and how to position yourself to find the right fit for your land and lega...

When wildfires hit central and western Nebraska this spring, producers were left with urgent questions about recovery, and USDA stepped in with several programs to help. In this episode, host Morgan Bonifas, CAP intern, shares a recording from a CAP webinar featuring USDA Farm Service Agency staff Hilary Miracle, Megan Sunderland and Dana Ingerson, along with Conor Ward from the USDA Natural Resou...

Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska is hosting Local Food Showcases in communities across the state this summer, free events where people can sample dishes made from locally grown ingredients and meet the farmers who grew them. Program Coordinator Michelle Garwood and Program Specialist Skylar Falter join Nebraska FARMcast to talk about what these showcases look like in practice, from taste tests built a...

When drought or other weather conditions force producers to sell livestock earlier than planned or reduce herd numbers, the tax consequences can be significant. In this episode, Tina Barrett, executive director of Nebraska Farm Business, Inc., walks through the two main deferral options available to producers under federal tax law, explains how to determine whether deferring income actually makes...

Federal commodity program payments on many farms are still tied to base acres established in the 1985 farm bill — numbers that haven't changed in decades. New federal legislation gives landowners the opportunity to add base acres for the first time in years, and the review window is open now. Anastasia Meyer, extension agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability at th...

Organic land represents years of investment in soil health, certification records, and the markets that reward that work. When that land changes hands, protecting that investment requires the right lease language, the right records and conversations that start well before anyone signs. This episode features Glennis McClure, farm and ranch management analyst at the Center for Agricultural Profitabi...

Net farm income in Nebraska is projected to reach a record high in 2026, near $10 billion, but that number tells two very different stories depending on what you raise. Brad Lubben, extension associate professor and agricultural policy specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins Nebraska FARMcast to discuss his latest Policy Report column for Nebraska Farmer, which breaks down what&#39...

The Nebraska Land Link program works to connect new and beginning farmers seeking land with retiring landowners. The Nebraska Land Link Podcast series provides listeners with more knowledge about the program and how to successfully navigate the process. Produced by Lexi Bodlak, Nebraska Land Link intern. Episode #3: Generational Differences With: Allan Vyhnalek, Nebraska Extension Educator Emeritu...

The Nebraska Land Link program works to connect new and beginning farmers seeking land with retiring landowners. The Nebraska Land Link Podcast series provides listeners with more knowledge about the program and how to successfully navigate the process. Produced by Lexi Bodlak, Nebraska Land Link intern. Episode #2: Good Communication and Negotiation With: Allan Vyhnalek, Nebraska Extension Educat...

Michelle Garwood, program coordinator for Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska, joins Nebraska FARMcast to discuss the 2026 Local Food Guide and how it helps Nebraskans find local farms, ranches, farmers markets and food businesses across the state. She shares what’s included in this year’s guide, how consumers can use the print and online versions, and why the guide remains a valuable marketing tool for...

The beef industry remains a bright spot in the agricultural economy, but the policy questions ahead are complex. In this episode, Brad Lubben, extension ag policy specialist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses current beef industry policy issues highlighted through the Krutsinger Beef Industry Scholars program’s trip to the 2026 Cattle Industry Convention. The conversation covers ca...

The Nebraska Land Link program works to connect new and beginning farmers seeking land with retiring landowners. The Nebraska Land Link Podcast series provides listeners with more knowledge about the program and how to successfully navigate the process. Produced by Lexi Bodlak, Nebraska Land Link intern. Episode #1: Values and Mission Statements With: Jay Parsons, Professor and Director, Center fo...

In this episode, Glennis McClure, extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses the 2026 Nebraska Agricultural Custom Rates Report and how producers and custom operators can use it as a guide for pricing custom work. The report includes survey data from 108 Nebraska respondents covering 123 custom operations and services, with statewide...

Glennis McClure, extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst at Nebraska, joins the podcast to discuss stress in Nebraska agriculture, how it can build over time or hit all at once, and why it is important to recognize signs early in ourselves and others. The conversation covers practical coping strategies, the eight dimensions of wellness, and resources available to farmers, ranchers...

The Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, has been a key part of U.S. farm policy for decades, but enrollment in the program has shifted quite a bit over time. Today, CRP looks different than it did when it first started, and its future may depend largely on what happens with the next farm bill. In this episode, Extension agricultural policy specialist Brad Lubben breaks down how CRP enrollment ha...

As the March 15 crop insurance deadline approaches, many Nebraska producers are deciding whether county-level coverage options like the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) or Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) fit into their risk management plans. In this episode of Nebraska FARMcast, University of Nebraska–Lincoln agricultural economists Cory Walters and Jessica Groskopf discuss how these area-based p...

Rural grocery stores are more than places to buy food — they’re anchors for small-town economies and community life. In this episode, Deborah Solie of the Center for Rural Affairs and Charlotte Narjes of the University of Nebraska Cooperative Development Center discuss a new Rural Grocery Store Learning Cohort designed to help store owners strengthen operations, build community connections and pla...

In this episode, Brad Lubben, extension ag policy specialist with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, walks through the key legislative turning points that shaped today’s farm bill. Drawing from his latest Policy Report column in Nebraska Farme r , Lubben explains how farm policy evolved from New Deal–era supply controls, to income support in the 1970s, to the risk-management framework producers k...

Livestock sale barns are often thought of as places where cattle are bought and sold. But for many producers, they also serve as important gathering spaces — places to exchange information, build relationships, and stay connected in an industry that can be isolating at times. In this episode of Nebraska FARMcast , Ryan Evans talks with Marilyn Schlake and Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel of the Departm...

USDA has announced a new round of farm assistance called the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, a one-time payment intended to help producers manage financial pressure while longer-term farm safety-net changes are still months away from paying out. In this episode, Dr. Brad Lubben, extension ag policy specialist with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, breaks down how the program works, how payment...

Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska is approaching its 20th year of connecting consumers with Nebraska-grown food and supporting farmers, ranchers, and food businesses across the state. In this episode, Michelle Garwood, the program’s new coordinator, shares her background in farming, education, and Extension and what drew her to the role. She’s joined by Skylar Falter, who reflects on how interest in lo...

Base acres are the foundation of Farm Bill commodity payments, but in Nebraska they don’t always line up with what farmers are planting today. In this episode, economists with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability break down how base acres were created, why gaps have emerged between base acres and planting decisions, and what that means for producers and landow...

As farmers and ranchers plan for 2026, federal ag policy offers a mix of stronger support and lingering uncertainty. Brad Lubben, extension ag policy specialist with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, breaks down recent policy changes, trade assistance, regulatory issues, and what producers should be watching as they make production, marketing, and financial decisions for the year ahead. More: ht...

Nebraska’s net farm income is projected to climb more than 40% in 2025, driven by strong cattle prices and a surge in government payments. But those headline numbers don’t tell the whole story. Crop receipts have fallen for four straight years, margins remain tight, and producers across the state are facing very different economic realities depending on what they raise. In this episode,  Dr. Brad...