Cornhusker Economics March 18, 20015Fuel Prices and Cost of Production
Last fall, when the 2015 Nebraska Crop Budgets were being developed, the cost of fuel for 2015 was estimated to be $3.25 per gallon. A farm supplier reported on March 10, 2015 that the price of fuel delivered to the farm is around $2.40. How much affect does that price change have on cost of production?
Cornhusker Economics April 1, 2015Swine Contracting Producer Protections
Legislative Bill 176 would authorize custom feeding contracts between packers and Nebraska pork producers. Some producer protection provisions for these contracts are currently established under federal law and in several states but not yet in Nebraska. This newsletter discusses some of these issues.
Cornhusker Economics April 8, 2015Financial Outlook for Production Agriculture in Nebraska
Based on February calculations, net farm income in 2015 for Nebraska is expected to decline from $6.35 billion in 2014 to $3.52 billion in 2015. This article discusses the 2015 outlook for crops, livestock and government payments as well as the Nebraska Farm Income projections.
Cornhusker Economics May 6, 2015North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
After peaking near $130 billion in 2013, U.S. net farm income fell to $108 billion in 2014 and is expected to fall to $74 billion in 2015, the lowest level since 2009 (USDA Economic Research Service). The large drop from 2013 to 2015, after nearly a decade of strong growth in agricultural income, presents a substantial challenge to agricultural producers and an increased need to carefully manage risk on the farm or ranch.
Cornhusker Economics May 27, 2015Precision Agriculture Usage and Big Agriculture Data
Agricultural producers have quickly adopted precision agriculture technologies in recent years. With the availability of global positioning system (GPS) signals and other technology, producers can track yields, steer and control equipment, monitor field conditions, and manage inputs at very precise levels across a field, offering the potential to substantially increase productivity and profitability.