When fences become damaged following a disaster, it’s important for landowners and livestock owners to be aware of Nebraska fence law and considerations – including for possible replacement assistance -- as the damage is assessed. Jessica Groskopf, an agricultural economist with Nebraska Extension and the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/management/rebuilding-fences-after-disaster.

Boards of directors play important roles in the cooperative structure. But some directors, especially if they have limited business experience, may find themselves struggling to identify basic questions that need to be answered to ensure the cooperative is successful. According to Cindy Houlden, a cooperative development specialist with the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, the evaluation of cooperative operations and leadership is essential.

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/rural/cooperative-directors-asking-necessary-questions-0.

With recent drought conditions across Nebraska, concerns about the availability of forage for cattle this grazing season are top of mind for many producers. While planting forage can have numerous benefits, there is also a certain amount of risk that comes with uncertainty about precipitation and soil moisture.

The Annual Forage Insurance Plan from the USDA Risk Management Agency is a program that can help crop and livestock producers mitigate these precipitation risks when growing annual forages. The signup deadline for coverage during the next year is July 15 and, for more about the program, we hear from Jay Parsons, professor and farm and ranch management specialist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability at UNL.

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/forage/insurance-annual-forages-sign-deadline-july-15.

The most recent interest rate hike made by the Federal Reserve to combat to rising inflation marked the largest one-time increase since 2000 and was already the second increase of 2022 – and more may be on the way. With grazing land values also reaching near-record highs this year, feeder and fed cattle producers are encountering more hurdles to profitability. Feeder cattle producers are encountering near record-high grazing land values and fed cattle producers are experiencing high input costs and feeder-to-livestock interest rates. Both are posing significant hurdles to profitability. Dr. Elliott Dennis, an assistant professor and livestock marketing economist with the Center for Ag Profitability here at UNL, explains.

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/livestock/feeder-cattle-interest-rates-grazing-land-values-pose-hurdles-producers.

With school letting out for the year, summer vacation season is upon us and, even with high fuel prices, travel is likely to pick up. And that may mean opportunities for Nebraska residents to show off the best of their communities to visitors or travelers passing through. According to Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, an extension specialist with Rural Prosperity Nebraska, it can be the little things that make the difference in leaving a positive impression.

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/rural/welcoming-communities-it%E2%80%99s-little-things-matter.

Are U.S. farmers being paid fairly for the quality of the hard red winter wheat they produce? New research at here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln looks at the role of quality characterizing in pricing hard red winter wheat. The findings are summarized in a new Cornhusker Economics article from UNL’s Agricultural Economics department, which we have posted on our site, cap.unl.edu. For more, one of the co-authors of the research, Cory Walters, an associate professor in the Ag Econ Department at UNL, joins the podcast.

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/crops/are-you-paid-your-hard-red-winter-wheat-quality.

In national polls, confidence in various government institutions had declined last year after increasing slightly in 2020. However, people are more likely to have confidence in local institutions compared to national ones. In fact, Gallup has found that confidence in local government remains higher than state government, which is higher than the federal government. Given this, how much confidence do rural Nebraskans have in various government institutions and systems?What factors influence their confidence?

Becky Vogt, survey research manager for the Nebraska Rural Poll at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses.

Read more: https://cap.unl.edu/rural/confidence-local-institutions-among-rural-nebraskans-becky-vogt.

When children earn wages on the family farm, they are often placed in a savings or 529 account. But Jessica Groskopf, an agricultural economist with Nebraska Extension and the Center for Ag Profitability, also encourages families to consider opening a custodial Roth IRA account, which can have greater earning potential than savings accounts and more flexibility that 529 accounts, among other considerations. 

Groskopf, along with Doug Nelson, an adjunct professor with UNL’s Child, Youth and Family Studies department, has authored a new article comparing Roth IRAs to savings accounts and 529 plans. Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/finance/roth-iras-children-earning-wage-farm.

USDA’s March 30th Prospective Plantings report revealed expected decreases in the amount of corn acreage being planted this year, which could have implications for cattle feeders across the country. Dr. Elliott Dennis, assistant professor and livestock marketing economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics here at UNL, has a new analysis reacting to the report, which focuses on feed availability, cost of gain and manure as a potential source of feedlot revenue.

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu/livestock/feed-availability-cost-gain-and-manure-source-feedlot-revenue-and-crop-fertilizer.