Monday April 28 Ag News

NRDs Help Commemorate Arbor Day with American Linden Planting at Capitol

Joined by esteemed guests including Governor Jim Pillen and representatives from the Nebraska Forest Service, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, and Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) celebrated Arbor Day by planting an American Linden on the southwest lawn of the Nebraska State Capitol.

“Planting trees is an investment in Nebraska’s future—one that protects our natural resources, supports our agricultural heritage, and strengthens our communities,” said John Yoakum, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts director representing the Lower Platte South NRD. “We’re proud to work alongside dedicated partners to bring lasting conservation benefits to every corner of the state.”

Yoakum was joined by Steve Glenn, Executive Travel chairman. In December 2021, Executive Travel announced a partnership with Nebraska’s NRDs to plant a tree for every plane ticket they sell through the ETGreen campaign. To date, more than 161,000 trees have been planted through the partnership. And in 2025, Executive Travel committed an additional $50,000 for tree planting.

“When Executive Travel was building the ETGreen initiative, we wanted to partner with a local organization dedicated to a sustainable future and a beautiful Nebraska,” said Glenn. “The NRDs serve a great network of local landowners who plant hundreds of thousands of trees annually.”

The choice of the American Linden aligns seamlessly with the original landscape plans developed by Ernst Herminghaus, Nebraska’s first professionally trained landscape architect, who designed the capitol landscape plan to enhance the character of the building as viewed from the site and beyond. Over the past 28 years, the Capitol Commission has diligently replanted the same species in their designated locations, in accordance with the landscape blueprint established nearly 90 years ago.

Yoakum noted that extreme weather events, diseases and invasive insects have impacted Nebraska’s tree population, making it vitally important to plant and maintain a diverse mix of tree species.

Since their inception in 1972, Nebraska’s NRDs have been planting conservation trees and shrubs for windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat and other conservation purposes. In the past 53 years, Nebraska’s NRDs have planted more than 101 million trees.



Introducing PLAN: Mobile Irrigation Management App
Xin Qiao - Irrigation and Water Management Specialist
Joseph Oboamah - Graduate Student
Wei-zhen Liang - Research Assistant Professor
Gary Stone - Extension Educator

Since 2020, the PHREC Irrigation and Digital Agriculture lab has successfully operated a web-based dashboard to support the Peer Learning Agricultural Network (PLAN). This platform has enabled growers to access critical data including real-time soil moisture readings, disease outbreak risks, and weekly crop water use information for the Nebraska Panhandle region. Through collaboration with over 30 growers and various commercial partners via API (Application Programming Interface) integrations, our team has expanded coverage to more than 100 commercial fields spanning approximately 10,000 acres of farmland.

Introducing the PLAN Mobile App
While our web dashboard has proven valuable, field accessibility remained challenging. To address these roadblocks, we are pleased to announce the release of our new mobile application: PLAN.

This app incorporates most features from the website while introducing significant improvements for in-field usage. The key features for the PLAN mobile app include: real-time sensor data visualization, weekly crop water use reports, user-friendly irrigation scheduler, enhanced field monitoring capabilities, potential for AI integrations.

Irrigation Scheduler
The app features a specialized irrigation scheduler (Figure 2) designed particularly for users without commercial soil moisture probes. Using a straightforward "checkbook" method with an intuitive interface, users can input irrigation information while the app automatically calculates irrigation needs based on data from nearby weather stations and corresponding weekly crop water use information. This scheduler is currently in final development and will be available in May.
mobile app screens side by side

The PLAN app is now available for download on the PHREC website https://phrec-irrigation.com/#/app_intro.

Current status:
    iOS version: Available now through TestFlight (official App Store release coming soon)
    Android version: In development, coming soon

We encourage interested users to download the app and provide feedback using the floating comment icon within the application.



Nebraska Legislature Advances Key Bills on Protein Labeling, State Agency Merger, Raw Milk Transport, and Budget Solutions
Nebraska Farm Bureau

Last week at the Nebraska Legislature, lawmakers made progress on several key bills impacting agriculture, environmental policy, and the state budget.

Food Labeling and Cultivated Protein Ban
Debate continued on LB246, which would ban the sale of cultivated-protein products in Nebraska. Nebraska Farm Bureau maintained a neutral position, opposing a complete ban but supporting accurate product labeling. Despite ongoing discussion, the bill advanced to Final Reading.

State Agency Merger and Water Management Overhaul
LB317, which proposes merging the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of Environment and Energy, also advanced. The bill would establish a Chief Water Officer and streamline authority over water management, conservation, and low-level radioactive waste. Lawmakers debated for over two hours before moving the measure forward. Nebraska Farm Bureau opposed this bill.

Raw Milk Transport Support
LB561, introduced by Sen. Tom Brandt, would allow overweight vehicle permits for transporting raw milk, treating it like other exempted agricultural commodities. The bill permits loads up to 15% above weight limits, with a cap of 20,000 pounds per axle. Farm Bureau supports this proposal, and it advanced to Select File with a 35-0 vote.

Closing the Budget Gap with Responsible Solutions
Two bills advanced that aim to address Nebraska’s budget shortfall.
    LB650, introduced by Sen. von Gillern, would generate approximately $56 million by reviewing business and agriculture incentive programs and improving government efficiency.
    LB645, introduced by Sen. Ballard, would raise around $77 million by adjusting state contributions to the School Retirement Fund in a fiscally responsible way while maintaining actuarial funding.

Both measures moved forward from Select File and reflect the Legislature’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and strategic policy reform.



Nebraska and U.S. Farm Income Update and Outlook – Spring 2025
Brad Lubben, Associate Professor and Extension Policy Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Alejandro Plastina, Associate Professor of Agricultural Finance and Director of the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center, University of Missouri.

Nebraska’s farm income prospects are mixed in 2025, with lower crop prospects buffered by continued strength in the cattle sector and substantial government assistance projected for the year. The net result is that farm income for the state is projected higher in 2025 and could rival the record farm income results of 2022.

While the outlook may be strong, it might seem at odds with widely-reported producer concerns and high levels of uncertainty over key production, market, and policy developments that could affect farm income through the year.

The details are always more complex and highlight potential differences across sectors as well as the need for a deeper analysis. Join us for a review of the details and the latest farm income situation and outlook for the rest of 2025 and beyond for ag producers.

Presented by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and the University of Missouri’s Rural and Farm Finance Center.  Register and get more information at https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.




Free Farm and Ranch Clinics for Nebraska Producers in May

Though the farm finance and ag law clinics are offered monthly at sites across Nebraska, remote sessions are another option — call the number below to arrange a one-on-one meeting via phone or virtual platform.

Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state in May. The clinics are one-on-one in-person meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. These are not group sessions, and they are confidential.

The attorney and financial advisor specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial and business planning, transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, debt structure and cash flow, agricultural disaster programs, and other relevant matters. Here is an opportunity to obtain an independent, outside perspective on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.

Clinic Dates
    Thursday, May 8 — Fairbury
    Thursday, May 15 — Norfolk
    Friday, May 16 — Valentine

To sign up for a free clinic or to get more information, call the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258. Funding for this work is provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska.



Farm Bureau Honors 22nd Women’s Communications Boot Camp Graduates

Fifteen farm and ranch women leaders graduated from the spring session of Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The agricultural leaders completed an intensive four-day course that featured hands-on sessions focused on public speaking, working with the media and messaging. Program graduates will use their training to strategically support issues important to farmers and help tell agriculture’s story. This includes participating in local media opportunities, sharing information with elected officials and joining social media campaigns that spotlight modern agriculture.

“Women provide essential voices for agriculture,” said Isabella Chism, an Indiana row crop farmer and chair of the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. “Boot Camp graduates are investing in their growth and stretching themselves to benefit their communities and Farm Bureau on local, state and national levels.”

Boot Camp graduates are Angie Newbold, Arizona; Connor Vincent, Delaware; Laura Goss, Florida; Megan Platt, Indiana; Donzetta Hughes, Kentucky; Haley Eckstrom, Minnesota; Joan Ruskamp, Nebraska; Shelby Ricks, North Carolina; Emily Warnimont, Ohio; Amy McChesney, Pennsylvania; Megan Floyd, South Carolina; Emmy Armstrong, Tennessee; Amanda Norr, Utah; and Candace Monaghan and Stacy Richardson, Virginia.

“Strong agricultural advocacy is more important than ever for agriculture and Farm Bureau is proud to help our members become fantastic ambassadors,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “It’s a pleasure to recognize the farm and ranch leaders who stepped up to complete this elite training. We congratulate them as they drive forward on their leadership journey.”

This is the 22nd Boot Camp hosted by AFBF. The program has 328 graduates and is open to all women involved in Farm Bureau.

“This training provided an incredible opportunity for growth,” said attendee Amy McChesney, a Pennsylvania farmer. “The opportunity to advance my skills and receive constructive criticism on how to improve in all the areas presented was extremely helpful.”

The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, in partnership with AFBF staff, hosts and provides training for Women’s Communications Boot Camp biannually. Applications open in June for the 2025 fall session of Boot Camp.

Photos from this event may be downloaded at http://fb.org/spring25bootcamp.



U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Demands Mexico Cooperate to Protect U.S. Agricultural Products from Invasive Pests; Threatens Port Closures

Over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins sent a letter to her counterpart in Mexico demanding Mexico eliminate restrictions on USDA aircraft and waive customs duties on eradication equipment that are critically impairing the U.S. response to spread of the New World Screwworm.

Secretary Rollins wrote, “Every delay in granting full operational authority and eliminating customs barriers undermines our collective ability to carry out this emergency response.”

Additionally, Secretary Rollins informed the government of Mexico, “…that if these issues are not resolved by Wednesday, April 30, USDA will restrict the importation of animal commodities, which consist of live cattle, bison, and equine originating from or transiting Mexico to protect the interest of the agriculture industry in the United States.”

The USDA continues to take all necessary action to stop the spread of New World Screwworm in southern Mexico to protect America’s livestock industry, food supply, and wildlife populations before it reaches the U.S. border. New World Screwworm (NWS) is a deadly parasitic fly that infests warm-blooded animals, causing severe wounds and complications that can lead to death. A NWS infestation in the U.S. will result in significant losses to livestock industries. The U.S. successfully led the eradication of NWS in the U.S. and Mexico, but recent detections in Mexico show that this dangerous pest is back and remains a serious threat. Ongoing vigilance and control efforts are critical to prevent its spread northward and protect animal health and agriculture.



NCBA Backs USDA Efforts to Safeguard Cattle Industry from New World Screwworm

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ actions to protect the American cattle industry from the rising threat of New World screwworm.

“The U.S. spent millions of dollars to eradicate New World screwworm from our borders in the 1960s but unfortunately, we are now facing this dangerous threat again,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “Screwworm is very destructive and could cost American producers millions of dollars a year if it reaches us. Americans have been investing in prevention efforts in Central America for decades, but we can’t stop this without Mexico’s participation. NCBA strongly supports Secretary Rollins holding Mexico to their commitments regarding screwworm eradication.”

In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was notified that New World screwworm was detected in Mexico. NCBA has been working closely with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to increase surveillance, inspection, and other measures to counter this pest.

At the same time, NCBA has also been working with USDA to expand the use of the sterile insect technique, which requires the continuous release of sterile male screwworm files that breed with wild screwworms and result in no offspring, eradicating the species.

Unfortunately, Mexican authorities have failed to uphold their end of the agreement by disrupting planes carrying these sterile male files, refusing pilots permission to land, and instituting customs duties on flight components, sterile flies, and sterile insect technique equipment.

“We have received multiple reports that critical flights carrying these sterile flies have been denied permission to land, faced bogus paperwork issues, and been charged high customs fees. As a result, we have lost significant time and investment that has allowed these dangerous pests to spread unchecked into southern Mexico,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “In light of those reports, NCBA met with the Mexican Embassy earlier this week to deliver the message that the Mexican government needs to be a partner on eradicating screwworms to protect both animal and human health. It’s time for Mexican authorities to act and we appreciate Secretary Rollins standing with American and Mexican cattle producers who want to see this pest stopped dead in its tracks.”

Earlier this week, NCBA President Wehrbein also met with senior officials at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. to press for further action on screwworm eradication. NCBA will continue this critical work to ensure we are protecting U.S. consumers and the health of the American cattle herd.



USDA Dairy Products 2024 Production Summary

Total cheese production, excluding cottage cheeses, was 14.2 billion pounds, 0.7 percent above 2023 production. Wisconsin was the leading State with 25.2 percent of the production.

Italian varieties, with 6.03 billion pounds were 2.9 percent above 2023 production and accounted for 42.3 percent of total cheese in 2024. Mozzarella accounted for 79.5 percent of the Italian production, followed by Parmesan with 7.4 percent and Provolone with 6.4 percent. Wisconsin was the leading State in Italian cheese production with 28.3 percent of the production.

American type cheese production was 5.58 billion pounds, 3.0 percent below 2023 and accounted for 39.1 percent of total cheese in 2024. Wisconsin was the leading State in American type cheese production with 19.7 percent of the production.

Butter production in the United States during 2024 totaled 2.24 billion pounds, 5.9 percent above 2023. California accounted for 29.8 percent of the production.

Dry milk powders (2024 United States production, comparisons with 2023)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 1.67 billion pounds, down 10.7 percent.
Skim milk powders - 599 million pounds, down 13.3 percent.

Whey products (2024 United States production, comparisons with 2023)
Dry whey, total - 853 million pounds, down 9.0 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 1.11 billion pounds, up 0.3 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 495 million pounds, down 1.9 percent.

Frozen products (2024 United States production, comparisons with 2023)
Ice cream, Regular (total) - 886 million gallons, up 2.7 percent.
Ice cream, Lowfat (total) - 412 million gallons, down 6.6 percent.
Sherbet (total) - 26.4 million gallons, down 6.9 percent.
Frozen Yogurt (total) - 37.8 million gallons, down 5.6 percent.