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 Educator with Nebraska Extension, who has just authored a new article on the topic. Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/livestock/retain-not-retain-heifer-dilemma

We learn about the work of Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska to connect Nebraskans to local farms and foods amid their 2024 membership drive. The organization, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, offers members inclusion in their popular local food guide, published annually and distributed across the state. Interim Coordinator Charlotte Narjes joins to discuss. Read more about the membership drive here or visit the Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska website.

Bringing children into the operation is the goal for many farms and ranches, but it can require some creative approaches so that everyone involved can earn a living. Jessica Groskopf, an extension educator and agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability, is writing a series of articles for our website, cap.unl.edu, detailing ideas to help this transition process. She joins to discuss her first article in the series, about monetary compensation for family members. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/management/paying-family-members-farm-or-ranch

Dave Aiken, professor and extension agricultural law specialist at Nebraska, discusses two bills dealing with alien land ownership restrictions that have been introduced in the 2024 Nebraska legislative session. https://cap.unl.edu/policy-legal/foreign-land-ownership-bills-introduced-nebraska-legislature-podcast

Applications for cooperative business development mini grants are now being accepted for 2024 by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Cooperative Development Center. The mini grants are available to both existing cooperatives and groups who are exploring or developing cooperative business models. The application is open through February 15th. UNL Cooperative Development Specialist Cindy Houlden joins to discuss. Find out more and apply on the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center's website, https://ncdc.unl.edu.

On this episode, we elve into the crucial realm of strategic planning within the agricultural sector, and establishing the vision and mission for an agribusiness. In an industry buffeted by the winds of economic change, environmental unpredictability, and technological advancements, having a strategic plan can act as a map through the uncharted territories of future market landscapes. Larry Van Tassell, professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Director of the Center for Agricultural Profitability has authored a new article on the importance of strategic planning and we’ll discuss the art of transforming uncertainties into opportunities, the importance of understanding one's mission, and the need for assessing the ever-evolving external environment that shapes your farm's future. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/management/importance-strategic-planning-farmers-and-ranchers

Glennis McClure, a Farm and Ranch Management Analyst with Nebraska Extension, discusses her new article on Figuring Field Operation Costs Using the Agricultural Budget Calculator Program. In it, Glennis explores the use of UNL’s Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) Program, a tool designed to assist producers and custom operators in calculating machinery field operation and ownership costs. By comparing newer and older equipment, the article provides valuable insights into how these calculations can influence decisions regarding machinery upgrades and their impact on production costs. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/abc/machinery

In this episode, we'll continue discussion about the complexities of the farm bill and current state of agricultural policy. After passing an extension of the 2018 farm bill in late 2023, Congress gave itself another year to enact updated legislation, but debate is expected to continue as competing interests show few signs of compromise so far. In his latest monthly policy column for Nebraska Farmer Magazine, UNL Extension Associate Professor and Policy Specialist Brad Lubben looks into these competing interests and ongoing policy debates surrounding the farm bill, and the impact on Nebraska's agricultural community. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/policy-legal/new-farm-bill-remains-difficult-goal-2024

Marilyn Schlake, a Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, recently authored an insightful article titled "Agriculture and Community Well-Being: A review of three research studies," which sheds light on the dynamic relationship between agricultural producers and rural communities. I’m looking forward to hearing more about the relationship between main street and agriculture in rural communities. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/rural/agriculture-and-community-wellbeing-review-three-research-studieshttps://cap.unl.edu/rural/agriculture-and-community-wellbeing-review-three-research-studies

For new and beginning farmers, access to things like land and capital can present challenges on their road to becoming established producers. Amid the economic challenges that come with being a beginning farmer, there are programs and strategies that can offer a leg up to getting on a good path. This was the topic of a recent Nebraska Farmer magazine column by Brad Lubben, an extension associate professor and ag policy specialist here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He’s here to talk more about the realities of starting out in ag today, the looming challenges and some innovative solutions that can be implemented. Read more at https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/farm-bill-extension-pushes-off-debate-but-not-farmer-decisionshttps://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/farm-bill-extension-pushes-off-debate-but-not-farmer-decisions

Estate and transition planning often focuses on what happens to the farm or ranch at the death of a key person. However, a good estate and transition plan should also include contingencies for disability. Planning for a disability is not an easy task because the severity and duration of the disability are unknown. Jessica Groskfop, extension educator and agricultural economist with UNL's Center for Agricultural Profitability, offers some key items to have in place to protect you and your operation from disability. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/succession/what-happens-your-farm-or-ranch-if-you-become-disabled

Lia Nogueira, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins this episode to discuss a rent paper about a study, "Economics of Deficit Irrigation Utilizing Soil Moisture Probes in the Western Corn Belt." This research offers a fresh perspective on how technological advancements like soil moisture probes can optimize irrigation strategies, particularly in water-scarce regions like the Western Corn Belt. We discuss the complex interplay between water usage, crop yields, and economic outcomes, unraveling how these factors are reshaping the way we think about sustainable agriculture. The research sheds light on the challenges faced by modern producers, and explores how data-driven irrigation methods can lead to more informed, efficient, and profitable farming practices. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/crops/economics-deficit-irrigation-utilizing-soil-moisture-probeshttps://cap.unl.edu/crops/economics-deficit-irrigation-utilizing-soil-moisture-probes

There are many strategies that cow-calf producers can explore to be more profitable and on this episode, we’ll hear some examples that are based on data from the University of Minnesota’s FINBIN livestock analysis tool. Randy Saner is a Livestock Systems Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and he’s taken a dive into the data for a new article on our website, at cap.unl.edu. He’ll share some practices that can help lead to higher gross margins, the strategic moves involving calf transfers to other enterprises, and the role that government payments can play in bolstering farm and ranch income. Read more at: https://cap.unl.edu/livestock/what-did-higher-profit-cow-calf-producers-do-make-them-more-profitable

With recent land purchases, some are asking questions to learn more about IRS Section 180 and how it may provide tax deductions in the year of purchase. Shannon Sand is an agricultural economist and educator with Nebraska Extension who is based in North Platte. She joins the podcast to break down what exactly Section 180 is, who can potentially benefit from it, and how landowners can work with their tax professionals to utilize it. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/finance/what-irs-section-180-and-how-does-it-work

Cory Walters, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, recently co-authored an article analyzing how fuel efficiency in tractors has changed since the introduction of EPA emissions standards. The research was led by another co-author, Jerin TeKoste, a recent graduate of the Agricultural Economics Master’s program here at UNL. Dr. Walters discusses key findings from the research and offers his perspectives on how emissions regulations have impacted tractor performance over time and why this is important for farmers making equipment purchase decisions. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/policy-legal/diesel-tractor-fuel-efficiency-and-exhaust-emissions-standards.

Dr. Larry Van Tassell is a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and director of UNL's Center for Agricultural Profitability. He discusses his research into the latest data from the USDA's Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act report about foreign investment in Nebraska agricultural land, exploring key findings, where the foreign owners are from and what this data means for Nebraska farmers, ranchers, and landowners. Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/policy-legal/how-much-nebraska-ag-land-owned-foreign-entities-0.

The Nebraska Entrepreneurial TaskForce (NetForce) is hosting its sixth annual Nebraska Entrepreneurship Best Practices Summit on Tuesday, November 7th, at the Bosselman Conference Center, at Fonner Park in Grand Island. The one-day event will focus on strategies for building local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystems. Molly Brandt, Innovation and Entrepreneurship 4H educator with Nebraska Extension, discusses what to expect for entrepreneurs of all ages. Find more about the summit and register at https://www.netforcenebraska.org/aboutebps-801962.html

Foreign entities have been buying U.S. agricultural land for decades, but recent high-profile purchases have shone a spotlight on the practice. Critics argue it threatens our food security and allows foreign powers to exploit our resources. Others might see economic benefits outweighing any risks. A new article looks at the scope of foreign farmland acquisitions, the countries involved, the incentives driving this investment, and the key pros and cons for American agriculture. It’s been published by Dr. Larry Van Tassell, professor in Agricultural Economics at UNL and director of the Center for Agricultural Profitability. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/policy-legal/do-only-americans-own-america-foreign-investment-agricultural-lands-united-states

Cheryl Burkhart Kriesel is a professor and extension specialist with Rural Prosperity Nebraska. She joins the podcast to discuss an issue many communities may relate to - how to engage new volunteers and new ideas into established local events and activities. Dr. Burkhart-Kriesel points out that we often hear comments like "we need new people!" and "its the same people do things every year!" when it comes to community events. But making that transition to new leadership and volunteers isn't always easy. Both established organizers and new community members wanting to help out can benefit from strategies to open up participation. Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/rural/getting-people-involved-community-events-art-and-science

October is National Cooperative Month, a chance to celebrate cooperatives and learn about how these community-driven businesses operate, and their impacts across Nebraska. Charlotte Narjes is an extension educator with Rural Prosperity Nebraska and director of the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center here at UNL. She has over 15 years of experience working with cooperatives and rural community development, which includes providing education and technical assistance to groups exploring cooperative business models. She is passionate about the power of cooperatives to drive economic opportunities in rural areas. Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/rural/owning-our-identity-%E2%80%93-celebrating-cooperatives-2023