Wednesday November 26 Ag News - PRF Insurance Deadline Dec 1 - Landlord/Tenant Cash Rent Wksps - NRCS to Place Regional Hub in Lincoln - Iowa Reps Return from Vietnam, Indonesia - and more!

 Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Insurance as a Risk Management Tool

Pasture and forage are the backbone of many Nebraska livestock operations, but they are also among the most vulnerable resources. Drought can quickly reduce forage production, leaving ranchers with tough choices of either buying expensive feed or cutting herd numbers.

One tool available to manage this risk is the USDA’s Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) Insurance. Unlike traditional crop insurance, PRF doesn’t ensure the actual forage grown on your operation. Instead, it’s based on a rainfall index for your area. If rainfall falls below the long-term average during the months you select, you may receive an indemnity payment.

These indemnities are designed to help offset the extra costs of purchasing hay, feed, or other supplements when pasture growth is limited. In turn, PRF can help stabilize cash flow in dry years, providing ranchers with the flexibility to maintain their herds and avoid short-term decisions that could have long-term consequences.

Producers can customize coverage by selecting a productivity factor and a coverage level between 70% and 90% of the average rainfall, as well as specific two-month intervals when precipitation is most critical for their operation.

Enrollment occurs annually before December 1, with coverage based on your county and the grazing or haying months you select. While PRF doesn’t guarantee a profit, it is a valuable tool to include in your risk management plan, especially as weather patterns remain unpredictable.

For livestock producers who rely on grazing and hay, PRF can provide peace of mind and financial protection against the uncertainties of rainfall. To learn more, visit cap.unl.edu/forage, or contact your local crop insurance agent.



PARTIAL BUDGETING FOR FORAGE CHANGES 
- Shannon Sand, NE Extension Educator 

When deciding pasture decisions for the season, partial budgeting can help evaluate whether replanting, rotating or renovating pasture is the most economical choice.

Partial budgeting focuses only on items that change as a result of a management decision.  This makes it useful for forage improvements where costs and returns may shift over time. A simple partial budgeting includes four components:

1.         Added Costs-new expenses such as seed, fertilizer, herbicide, or custom work required to establish or improve the stand.

2.         Reduced Income- Temporary reductions in grazing or hay production during establishment or transition.

3.         Added Returns- Higher forage yields, improved quality, or greater carrying capacity that increase future potential income.

4.         Reduced Costs- Savings from lower weed pressure, better stand longevity or fewer purchased feed needs.

By estimating these values, producers can determine whether they expected gains outweigh the short-term costs. For example, renovating an older pasture may require upfront investments and some lost grazing time. The goal is that improved productivity could reduce feed costs and support more consistent performance over time.

Producers can use partial budgeting worksheets, enterprise budgets or the Ag Budget Calculator available on cap.unl.edu to create and compare different scenarios tailored to their operation. Taking the time to run the numbers helps producers or managers to ensure forage decisions strengthen both the pasture resource and overall financial resilience. .




Landlord/Tenant Cash Rent Workshops to Cover Leasing, Financial Strategies and Farm Transition

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension will present a series of landlord/tenant cash rent workshops for landowners and operators at locations across the state beginning in December.

The meeting, titled “Financial Strategies for Effective Agricultural Land Leasing and Management” will cover current Nebraska cash rental rates and land values, best practices for agricultural leases, and other contract considerations. The meeting will also include financial considerations for farm succession and transition and offer an opportunity for those in attendance to have their leasing questions answered.

Nebraska Extension agricultural economists with the Center for Agricultural Profitability will lead the meetings, which are free to attend. Registration is requested by calling the host Extension office prior to the meeting

Schedule and Registration Information:
    Dec. 16, 2025, in Mead, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, 1071 County Road G. Lunch included, sponsored by Farmers National Company. Register by Dec. 15 by calling Nebraska Extension in Saunders County at 402-624-8030.
     
Other meetings are set for December in Seward, Auburn, Scottsbluff, Bridgeport, O'Neill, and Ord.  Additional meetings will be added here as they are scheduled.

This work is supported by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center, project award no. 2024-70027-42470, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.



Fischer Applauds USDA Placement of Natural Resource Conservation Service Regional Hub in Lincoln

Tuesday, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) applauded the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Central Regional Hub will now be located in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“Good news: the USDA’s NRCS Central Regional Hub will now be located in Lincoln. This marks an important step in bringing decision-makers closer to the people they serve. I was proud to push for this placement and look forward to working with the administration to ensure our ag producers and landowners have the tools they need to drive real results for rural Nebraska and America,” Fischer said.

“This modernization puts leadership where it belongs — in the field, side-by-side with the producers we serve. We are streamlining operations, improving accountability, and ensuring that every NRCS employee has the tools, support, and leadership they need to deliver conservation results that matter. This is about putting farmers first, cutting bureaucracy, and delivering better outcomes for rural America,” Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt said.

The Central Region includes the following states: Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas 



Ricketts Praises USDA Decision to Locate NRCS Central Regional Hub in Lincoln

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) praised the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Central Regional Hub will be located in Lincoln, Nebraska:

“Decision-makers should be as close as possible to the people they serve.  Locating this regional hub in Lincoln recognizes the expertise, innovation, and stewardship Nebraskans demonstrate every day.  This modernization will improve accountability and efficiency.  Thank you, President Trump and Secretary Rollins, for putting Nebraska farmers first.”



Naig, IEDA Lead Trade Mission to Vietnam and Indonesia

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and a 12-member delegation have returned from a trade mission to Vietnam and Indonesia. The mission, coordinated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), included representatives from Iowa’s grain and protein commodity groups. The purpose of the mission was to strengthen trade relationships and promote Iowa’s high-quality corn, soybeans, pork, beef and biofuels in two of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets.

Vietnam and Indonesia represent significant opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports. Vietnam is among the top 10 global importers of U.S. agricultural products, purchasing more than $4.5 billion in 2024, while Indonesia imported $3.8 billion during the same period. In 2024, Iowa companies exported approximately $223.4 million in agricultural goods to Vietnam and $297.6 million to Indonesia. (Source: USDA and WISERTrade)

“Our trade mission to Indonesia and Vietnam was productive, and I was proud to lead a delegation of Iowa farmers into two fast-growing markets where we already have strong, established relationships,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “These are dynamic economies that value quality, reliability and sustainability, and Iowa competes exceptionally well on all three. We see clear opportunities to expand sales in both countries as their populations grow, and their middle classes and incomes continue to rise.”

The Iowa ag delegation visited Hanoi, Vietnam and Jakarta, Indonesia from November 14-23. The itinerary included trade policy discussions, market briefings, and business development meetings. Delegates represented the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa Soybean Association. IEDA partnered with the U.S. Grains Council, U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. Soybean Export Council and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service to identify prospects and organize meetings.

IEDA’s Global Business team connects Iowa companies with global markets, educates businesses on exporting and assists international companies seeking to invest in Iowa. Learn more about trade missions and services at iowaeda.com.