Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Nebraska is a land of pioneers. Our state was settled by hardy homesteaders who ventured across windswept prairies in search of opportunity. While we often celebrate the grit and determination of these early Nebraskans, they deserve equal credit for their ingenuity. Their inventiveness helped transform the Great Plains into some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. This spirit of innovation remains a driving force behind our state's global leadership in agriculture. Nebraskans...
Across the country, thousands of farmers grow small grains such as wheat, oats, barley and rye. Some choose to do so for conservation benefits, while others aim to diversify their income streams, to take advantage of local markets or meet the requirements of organic certification. But, as with growing any crop, there are associated risks. While farmers who grow crops like corn and soybeans often purchase federal crop insurance to manage risk, far less insure their small grains. Studies also...
For two years, processors and producers across rural Nebraska have fought hard to get a program to improve and expand Nebraska's meat processing capabilities approved and established. Their work, along with that of the Nebraska Legislature and staff at Nebraska Department of Agriculture, has paid off as grant applications for the Independent Processor Assistance Program are now being accepted. This development is not only good news to processors who've spent the last two years doing everything...
Recently, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee released its draft agriculture appropriations bill for 2023. The bill outlines funding for multiple programs that benefit rural America, including Conservation Technical Assistance and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. “The center relies on lawmakers to show their support for these programs through the appropriations process,” said Kalee Olson, policy associate for the Center. “This year, we’re pleased to see the House propose an increased investment in CTA.” Offered through t...
Implementing new conservation practices has many benefits for farms and ranches, but can sometimes be cost prohibitive for beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged producers. However, there are conservation programs that can help with those costs, even upfront. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, is one of the nation’s leading working lands conservation programs. EQIP helps producers i...
I recently heard somewhere that burgers cooked in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop are better than burgers cooked on a grill. I’m not buying it. The “experts” say a skillet allows the patties to baste in their own juices as they cook and that’s a huge improvement over losing all-important moisture to the spatters that cause annoying grilling flare-ups. OK, that part I can get behind (and I’ll file the info for non-grilling season), but I still think burgers cooked on a grill are a summer trea...
Conservation efforts can be rewarding for farmers and lead to healthier soil and increased yields. Many of these efforts are supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program. CSP provides both financial and technical assistance to farmers for existing conservation efforts on working lands. There are also additional financial incentives for farmers to build on their existing conservation efforts. These incentives are a...
With the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law last November—a $1.3 trillion investment in our nation’s infrastructure—major funding is now available to rural communities. These funds can be used to rebuild roads and bridges, invest in high-speed internet access and clean drinking water, and upgrade electric power infrastructure. However, just because these funds are available does not necessarily mean they are accessible. Rural communities often find it difficult to navigate fundi...
More than 200 high school juniors and seniors, sharing an interest in agriculture, will gather in Lincoln this July to develop leadership skills, explore career opportunities and learn more about the state’s number one industry. Lizett Marino, of Orchard, and Madison Melcher and Tucker Stagemeyer, of Page, have been selected as participants. In its 51st year, the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute is the longest-running program of its kind in the nation. Sponsored in part by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, NAYI will be held July 1...
While traveling the Third District in recent weeks, I have been encouraged by the expertise and creativity our communities possess and sobered by the challenges we face. We have much to be thankful for, but there is also no shortage to the adversity we must overcome. After closely monitoring the recent severe wildfires across southern Nebraska, I joined Governor Ricketts, Nebraska National Guard Adjutant General Daryl Bohac and other local officials earlier this week to survey the devastation...
Large or small, all farms and ranches are important to our country’s agriculture sector. Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts the Census of Agriculture. The goal is to get a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Information collected includes land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. The census sets out to capture information for ope...
Since its inception in 1972, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts have been planting conservation trees and shrubs for windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat and other conservation purposes. This spring, the NRD Conservation Tree Program plants its 100 millionth tree – that’s approximately 50 trees for each Nebraskan. “Nebraska has a proud history of planting trees, and putting the 100 millionth tree in the ground reflects Nebraskans’ willingness to invest in the future,” said Dr. Orval Gigstad, Nebraska Association of Resources D...
1. Every county has a U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center that houses Farm Service Agency and National Resource Conservation Services. This is where farmers and landowners go to access their programs. As a renter, you can still work with these agencies. 2. With FSA and NRCS, you can access financial assistance through conservation programs, farming loans and disaster assistance. 3. What are farm numbers? As a farmer, renter or landowner, you need a farm number to access NRCS or FSA pro...
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced Friday, an order cancelling all poultry events across Nebraska, due to highly pathogenic avian influenza. The order prohibits birds of any type at events including, but not limited to, fairs, expositions, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird auctions. The order is effective immediately and will be in effect until May 1, at which time the order will be reevaluated. “The decision to cancel poultry events was not taken lightly but is a necessary s...
Federal programs that invest in rural America have a significant impact on small communities. As resources are made available to local businesses and farmers, they are better equipped with the tools they need to succeed. Each year, Congress is responsible for passing an appropriations bill that allocates additional funding to programs that support agricultural, rural development, and small communities. On March 11, President Joe Biden signed the 2022 appropriations bill, totalling $1.5...
On March 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced the availability of $19.75 million in total funding for projects as part of the Value-Added Producer Grants program. Individual farmers and ranchers, as well as agricultural businesses and producer groups, may apply for the grants, which must be used to develop new products or expand existing markets for value-added products. The applicant must produce at least 50% of the raw agricultural product to which value is being added...
Editor’s note: In last week’s edition of SAM, the jump for this story was not included. We are running the article in its entirety and regret the error. After hearing public comment on a proposed moratorium, March 7, Holt County Planning and Zoning Commission members voted 6-2 to recommend an 18-month moratorium on all industrial pipeline, wind and solar power development to Holt County Supervisors. Commission member Mary Kaczor told an audience of more than 35 individuals, that the cou...
A decision on a perpetual easement for the Graham Crowe Ranch, LLC, in northeastern Holt County, will be revisited at 10:30 a.m., during a March 16 meeting of the Holt County supervisors. Supervisor Don Butterfield, of Atkinson, made a motion to table a decision, Feb. 28, following a public hearing which lasted more than 90 minutes. "I need to have a little time to mull this over," Butterfield said. Chairman Bill Tielke said it's unfair to make a quick decision. "Don, I'll agree with you. This...
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is urging poultry owners to monitor flocks for signs of the avian influenza. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed HPAI in commercial and/or backyard flocks in Iowa, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York and Virginia. As of Friday, the virus has not been found in Nebraska. “While we have not seen HPAI in Nebraska since 2015, protecting the health of pountry in the state is a top priority,” said state veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley. The virus can cause sudden death in birds,...
After hearing public comment on a proposed moratorium Monday evening, Holt County planning and zoning commission members voted 6-2 to recommend an 18-month moratorium on all industrial pipeline, wind and solar power development to Holt County Supervisors. Commission member Mary Kaczor told an audience of more than 35 individuals, that the county’s current comprehensive plan was written in 1980. “It’s totally out of date,” she said. The commission has hired Marvin Planning Associates, of David Ci...
A new federal program is offering grant funding for rural communities to develop community renewable energy projects. The Rural Energy Pilot Program, launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will provide up to $10 million in grant funding to connect underserved rural communities to the benefits of community-scale renewable energy. The program aims to help communities cut energy costs, reduce pollution, and address climate change. Funds will be awarded in the form of cost-share grants for...
For thousands of farming operations across the country, small grains provide big benefits. Producers growing small grains cite reasons ranging from conservation purposes to the requirements of organic certification to diversification of income streams to taking advantage of local markets. However, while small grains have demonstrable benefits, as with all crops they come with associated risks. In the coming months, farmers across the country will contact their agents to purchase federal crop ins...
After a three-month break, the Legislature convened Wednesday, Jan. 5, to begin the 107th legislative session, second session. Senators were called into special session in September to complete the redistricting process, based on new census data. Legislative District #40 no longer contains Boyd or Rock counties. Rock and Boyd counties are now part of Legislative District #43, represented by Sen. Tom Brewer. Legislative District #40 also lost the southern portion of Dixon County, which will be...
With the Biden administration focused on addressing climate change, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced plans for the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Initiative. As they move forward with development, it’s crucial USDA works with existing private sector markets. However, the support should not duplicate efforts, nor should a federal program facilitate transactions of carbon sequestration payments to producers. Instead, leaders of this proposed program s...
JOHNATHAN HLADIK Policy director Center for Rural Affairs The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is often misunderstood as favoring urban residents over rural. Formerly known as food stamps, a new study analyzing this program shows the opposite may be true. SNAP provides nutrition assistance payments to one in eight Americans every month. Approximately 16% of rural households use SNAP benefits, compared to 13% of metro households. In those rural households, a large majority of benefits assist vulnerable populations, including...
