Latest Updates from cropwatch.unl.edu

To use the new Pay My Loan feature for direct loans, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication account or a Login.gov account. See more details below. To better assist producers during seasons of limited free time, such as planting and harvest, farm loan payments can now be made at the borrower’s convenience, on their schedule.

Jill O’Donnell, director of the Clayton Yeutter Institute on International Trade and Finance, recently offered insight on how to boost ag innovation with gene editing technologies.

Nebraska Extension Educator Amy Timmerman shares insights to help Nebraska producers decide whether drones would be a beneficial precision ag investment for their operations.

Except for a short-lived cold front next week beginning on Wednesday, Nebraska is expected to have mild weather for the rest of February.

USDA’s REAP and FPEP programs were devised to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of clean energy, modernize equipment, adopt new technologies, build production plants and more. One of the program fund recipients is a Nebraska-based business that plans to construct a fully automated fertilizer facility.

The February Land Management Quarterly webinar will include an “Ask the Experts” session, allowing participants to get answers to their land or lease questions. The Center for Agricultural Profitability's first Land Management Quarterly of 2024 will cover the latest trends in Nebraska cash rental rates, new leasing considerations, and more on Feb. 19.

In a new episode of Nebraska FARMcast, Dave Aiken, professor and extension agricultural law specialist, discusses two new Nebraska legislative bills aimed at restricting alien land ownership. Dave Aiken, professor and extension agricultural law specialist, discusses two new Nebraska legislative bills aimed at restricting alien land ownership.

Throughout each Center for Agricultural Profitability Returning to the Farm workshop, participants receive help from experts in developing estate and transition plans, setting personal and professional goals and improving the communication process between family members. This workshop series assists families and agricultural operations with developing financial plans and successful working arrangements to meet their unique needs.

Strategic planning is a dynamic process that requires continuous adaptation to changing circumstances and is most effective when it includes input from stakeholders, including family, partners, employees, and even customers, suppliers, and buyers. (CAP photo) Center for Agricultural Profitability Director Larry Van Tassell discusses two steps that make planning strategic: defining the mission of the business and assessing the external environment and its implications for the farm business.

The CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Access to Capital Program will help rural communities understand the myriad of financing programs available to invest in socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and develop long-term access to capital programs and strategies. The program will assist underserved farmers and ranchers with finding affordable funding sources to start and grow their business.

The NFarms initiative at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center will be a test bed for new technologies, as well as platforms to help farmers better harness data. The initiative also will develop innovative decision-making tools that producers can use for efficient field management. Nate Thorson, the program’s research manager, brings experience with both agricultural production systems and software design to the platform. (Photo by Deloris Pittman)

A prolonged polar vortex caused below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation last month, which had the added benefit of improving drought conditions in eastern Nebraska.

Results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture are now available on the USDA NASS website. Though the numbers of farms in Nebraska was down slightly in 2022, the value of ag products has risen by 34% since 2017.

An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on emergency preparedness for rural families. (Adobe Stock photo) Hosted by local extension personnel in five locations across Nebraska, the workshop series will focus on farm and ranch emergency management, first aid, fire protection and hazardous materials.

Young palmer amaranth weed in a field plot at the West Central Research, Education and Extension Center in North Platte. (Photo by Milos Zaric) Extension urges producers to prepare for alternative weed management strategies in 2024 after a federal court ruling cancelled the EPA's 2020 approvals of the dicamba-based herbicides Xtendimax, Engenia and Tavium.

Sawfly traps without the nets stand in wheat fields at the High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney. The traps are part of ongoing research on the wheat stem sawfly. (Photo by Chabella Guzman) The Feb. 15 meeting will include updates on HPAL winter wheat fertility research and alternative crops breeding, wheat stem sawfly initiatives, TAPS wheat contest results, commodity marketing, HPAL 2022 crop production review and more.

IRS Section 180 allows landowners to treat the residual fertility present in the soil at the time of purchase as a deductible cost. Though the deduction should be filed during the year of land purchase, landowners may be able to file an amended tax return for a previous tax year. It’s important to consult your CPA or tax advisor to understand your options and file accordingly. With recent land purchases, many Nebraska producers are seeking to better understand IRS Section 180 tax deductions. This article provides a review of the tax code and its potential financial implications for landowners of newly acquired land.

Properly testing hay and adjusting mineral and livestock diets during the winter are important steps in minimizing the risk of issues like tetany and nitrate poisoning. Extension educators review factors that affect the success of pasture grazing leases, and how to avoid toxicity and malnutrition through livestock feed during the winter.

Nebraska will see mild temperatures continue into next week, with chances of precipitation this weekend and again next Thursday, Feb. 8.

There are several assistance programs available through USDA that may help producers who have experiences losses due to recent severe winter weather. More information about these programs is available on farmers.gov. Nebraska producers are encouraged to contact FSA to learn about the assistance programs and how to apply, including understanding needed documentation, such as farm records, herd inventory, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.