Nebraska FARMcast - Farm and Ranch Management

When farm and ranch businesses develop a business strategy to achieve specific goals, like profitability, managers often have to account for risks that come from internal and external uncertainties. On this episode, Dr. Jay Parsons, director of the Center for Agricultural Proftiability here at UNL, discusses a new article he has authored as part of the RightRisk News team. It explores how producer...

The results of the November elections are setting the stage for substantial shifts in Washington, D.C., particularly in agriculture policy. With new leadership across Congress and the White House, key issues like the overdue farm bill, trade policies, tax reform, and regulatory changes are on the horizon. Today, we’ll discuss what these potential changes could mean for agricultural producers and t...

This episode of Nebraska FARMcast takes a special look at emerging trends and the future of the workplace. From the growing demand on the part of employees for workplace flexibility to the importance of skills over degrees to employers, many businesses will face new challenges and opportunities in the coming years. Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, an Extension Specialist with Rural Prosperity Nebraska...

With lower commodity prices and tight margins for agricultural producers this year, paying attention for Farm Bill Commodity programs like ARC and PLC will be an important part of a farm risk management plan. On this episode, we're discussing the future of the Farm Bill safety net with Brad Lubben, associate professor and extension policy specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In a pair...

Estate planning is a critical issue for farm and ranch families – but what happens when assets are being divided unequally. It’s a delicate, sometimes uncomfortable conversation, but one that’s important to keeping harmony in the family while looking to the future. Anastasia Meyer, an extension agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability has a new article on communicating...

On October 3, 2024, the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center and Nebraska Grocery Industry Association are hosting the second annual Grocery Industry Summit in Kearney. This event brings together a wide range of stakeholders — from grocers and vendors to policymakers and more — to discuss strategies for navigating these challenges and building stronger, more resilient grocery markets in our sta...

On this episode, Glennis McClure, an Extension Educator and Farm and Ranch Management Analyst at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses her article, “Determining a Fair Rent for Farm Buildings,” which outlines the key factors involved in establishing a fair and equitable rental agreement for farm buildings. From calculating fixed and variable costs to considering depreciation and local mark...

On this episode, we're joined by Dr. Brad Lubben, agricultural policy specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The major party conventions are over and election season is in full swing, bringing speculation about what a new congress and administration could mean for agriculture policy. In his latest Policy Report column for Nebraska Farmer magazine, Dr. Brad Lubben, extension ag polic...

Looking ahead from now in the late summer of 2024, the agricultural landscape faces a mix of challenges and uncertainties. Lower commodity prices, rising production costs, and tighter margins are creating a difficult environment for producers across the country. The financial pressure is reminiscent of the hurdles faced by the ag sector a decade ago, but today’s high-interest rate climate adds ano...

This episode dives more into decision-making in agriculture, focusing on a powerful tool that can help farmers navigate the complexities and uncertainties they face. Jay Parsons, a professor in Nebraska’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Director of the Center for Agricultural Profiability, joins to discuss his article "Branching Out: Harnessing the Power of Decision Trees." It i...

Anastasia Meyer, an agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability, discusses her new article on estate planning, which focuses on stepped-up tax basis and its role in estate planning. She talks about how this adjustment can significantly reduce capital gains taxes for heirs and explores its implications for the transfer of farmland and other assets to the next generation.

This year’s Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights Survey, recently published by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, includes a special feature section that takes a closer look at the emerging trends and considerations for cover crops and their implications on lease arrangements. Jim Jansen, an ag economist with UNL and co-author of the annual real estate report, delves into these findings an...

A recent Supreme Court ruling overturning the 1984 Chevron doctrine put a stop to the decades-long precedent that federal courts defer to federal agencies for interpreting statutory provisions set by Congress, and the Farm Bill could be one of the first tests of the decision’s impact. Brad Lubben, extension policy specialist and associate professor with the Center for Agricultural Profitability wr...

Jessica Groskopf, an ag economist with Nebraska's Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension, has continued her series of articles that looks at creative ideas for estate and transition planning with a new publication on gifting ownership of the farm or ranch business. She discusses gifting ownership shares, considerations for ownership transfer, and the importance of plannin...

The 2024 Nebraska Custom Rates Report, which offers insights for agricultural producers and service providers, is now available through Nebraska Extension and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability. The report, published at cap.unl.edu/customrates , compiles survey data from 159 respondents, providing current market rates for 138 different custom operations and...

The higher interest rates that were established to counter inflation a couple years ago are persisting into 202, continuing to affect agricultural producers. On this episode, Jay Parsons, professor and farm and ranch specialist at the University of Nebraka-Lincoln, discusses how these economic pressures are impacting crop production, machinery purchases, and cattle herd rebuilding efforts. How do...

The quest in Congress to pass a new farm bill continued on May 23 when the House Agriculture Committee finished their markup on the bill after a long session that saw major amendments proposed by the minority fail, leaving a bill generally resembling the one that was introduced. Dr. Brad Lubben, an agricultural policy specialist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability wrote about how this s...

What's the impact of cover crops on the profitability and sustainability of livestock systems? Dr. Jay Parsons, a professor and farm and ranch management specialist and director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, discusses a new USDA Economic Research Service report on the integration of cover crops into livestock operations, highlighting the economi...

The newly published Nebraska Feedlot Labor and Management Survey Report, by Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Cattlemen, looks at data through 2021 and reveals significant changes in labor costs, compensation, and management practices within Nebraska's feedlot industry over the past few years. To discuss the key findings from the survey, including the challenges and trends feedlot operators face...

Cindy Houlden, a Cooperative Development Specialist with the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins to discuss g a pressing issue facing rural Nebraska and much of the country – the challenge of aging in place and the innovative solutions being developed to address it. Houlden shares insights from her recent article on the establishment of the Homecare...

Borrowing a loan can be a useful tool for farmers and ranchers, especially to fill in gaps when cash or working capital is short to cover current obligations or to make necessary or planned capital purchases. Before signing for a loan, understand the loan terms and repayment requirements as spelled out in the loan documents. Jessica Groskopf, an agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultu...

This episode explores how federal policy shapes the market for biofuels, a critical aspect impacting farmers nationwide. Nebraska Extension Policy Specialist Dr. Brad Lubben’s latest Policy Report column for Nebraska Farmer magazine dives into how U.S. policy drives the development of the renewable fuels markets and how the increased use of products like renewable diesel and sustainable aviation f...

Jessica Groskopf, a Nebraska Extension agricultural economist, discusses one approach to wealth transfer and estate planning within farming families. Jessica has just published the third article in a series that highlights different tactics for bringing family members into the operation. This episode focues on the concept of combining gifting with lease agreements as a means of transferring assets...

Glennis McClure, an Extension Educator and FARM and Ranch Management Analyst with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins to discuss the intricacies of farm and ranch operations’ financials at the start of the year. She talks about her new article on why traditional tax documents might not tell the full story of a farm's financial health and how accrual adjustments can offer a clearer pictur...

On this episode, we look at a critical decision point for cow-calf producers: whether to retain heifers for herd replacement or to opt for purchasing them. This decision can have implications on the operational goals, finances, and the herd’s genetic future for cow-calf operators. To explore what to consider in this decision-making process, we're joined by TL Meyer, a Livestock Systems Educato...