Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel is an extension specialist with Rural Prosperity Nebraska.

Setting goals mid-year, THIS year, could be perfect timing to take advantage of all the changes that are taking place. These goals could be for you individually, for a group or business or even for a community. Regardless of where the goals are targeted, there are some helpful guidelines to remember when you establish and ultimately implement them.

Read more about this in a an article by Dr. Burkhart-Kriesel on cap.unl.edu.

Many use the terms “farm estate planning” and “farm transition planning” interchangeably, but there are important distinctions to consider. Allan Vyhnalek, an extension educator for farm and ranch transition and succession, discusses planning for farm and ranch transition and modern considerations for what families and ag businesses as they go through this important process.

Read more in Vyhnalek's recent article on the topic at cap.unl.edu.

While high levels of price volatility in a rising market enhance the emotion associated with the grain marketing decision, price volatility also brings opportunity. Taking advantage of the opportunity requires discipline in the marketing decision. Jessica Groskopf and Cory Walters highlight the role of expected revenue in relation to production costs in making the grain marketing decision as well as the creation and importance of your farm’s average selling price.

Read more in their article at cap.unl.edu.

Growing a farm or ranch business goes beyond producing the most bushels or pounds. Operators who are profitable are more likely to control the fate of their business and achieve longevity through a balanced management approach. But this requires discipline and knowledge, according to Matt Stockton, an agricultural economist with Nebraska Extension, based at the West Central Research Extension and Education Center in North Platte.

Marilyn Schlake, an extension educator with Rural Prosperity Nebraska and Nebraska Extension, discusses how rural communities can evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses to best equip themselves for the future.

Read more at https://cap.unl.edu.

The volatility in grain prices, coupled with recent natural disasters that have impacted yield and prices, illustrate the importance of considering financially devastating outcomes and having effective risk management strategies in place to avoid them. Kara Zimmerman, a master’s student in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, recently defended her thesis that studies the impacts of crop insurance and intra-season hedging on long-run net income risk. She also co-authored a new article summarizing her findings, up on our Farm and Ranch Management website, farm.unl.edu.

After a cooperative grocery has been successfully organized and opened, the next step is ensuring smooth operations. Boards of directors at cooperatives can often times find themselves struggling to identify the basic questions they need to answer to help the co-op be successful — especially if they have limited business experience. The Nebraska Cooperative Development Center here at UNL offers trainings for cooperative boards, which includes addressing questions about how different co-ops should be managed, what policies are necessary to direct cooperatives and more.

Cindy Houlden, a cooperative development specialist with the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center at UNL discusses.

Read more in Houlden's new article at ncdc.unl.edu.

Ag carbon contracts are getting a lot of interest among farmers and ranchers. But what do they actually say and how much can a farmer actually earn? Joining to discuss what to look for and expect in carbon contracts is Dave Aiken, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at UNL.

When it comes time to harvest fields, there are different arrangements across Nebraska. Many farmers and landlords turn to custom operators. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Custom Rates report provides market rate information on many kinds of custom work performed across the state. Glennis McClure, a farm and ranch management analyst at UNL, discusses setting harvest rates, calculating field operation costs and UNL's new Ag Budget Calculator can help. 

For more, read McClure's article on farm.unl.edu.

With: Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor of Livestock Economics; Eric Thompson, Karl H. Nelson Associate Professor of Economics and Director, Bureau of Business Research; and Ellie Foral, undergraduate research student — all with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The authors of a new report of the potential economic impact of expanding dairy processing in Nebraska presented their findings in an hourlong webinar on June 17, 2021. In this special recap episode, they summarize the presentation and report, with additional observations. 

To view the webinar recording or read their report, visit farm.unl.edu.