Thursday March 19 Ag News - NE Land Values Down 1% - LEAD Group 43 Graduate - Calls for Year-Round E15 - All Fertilizer Prices Increase - Farmers on Fertilizer Supplies - and more!

NEBRASKA AG LAND VALUES DECLINE FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

The value of agricultural land in Nebraska declined 1% over the past year to an average of $3,905 per acre as of Feb. 1, according to the preliminary report from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2025-26 Farm Real Estate Market Survey. It is the second consecutive year of declining land values since the market reached $4,015 per acre in 2024.

The survey’s preliminary report was published March 18 by the university’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, based in the Department of Agricultural Economics. It provides current estimates of agricultural land values and cash rental rates, broken down by region and land class across Nebraska.

Land industry professionals who participated in this year’s survey attributed the decline to lower crop prices, higher farm input costs and prevailing interest rates.

“Many operations are facing tighter liquidity as crop revenues decline while input costs remain elevated,” said Jim Jansen, extension agricultural economist who leads the annual survey and report. “Those conditions are leading producers and lenders to take a more cautious approach when navigating these financial pressures.”

Crop receipts in Nebraska declined by about $576.6 million, or 16%, in 2025 as corn prices fell and soybean and wheat production dropped. Those losses were partially offset by a $3.22 billion increase in livestock receipts statewide. Jansen said the differences in crop and livestock profitability were reflected in land value trends across the state.

Land Values
Northeast NE - $8,185 - -1% 
Eastern NE - $9,315 - -1% 

The report found cropland values generally declined across Nebraska over the past year as tighter crop margins weighed on land markets. Center pivot irrigated cropland averaged 2% lower statewide, while gravity irrigated cropland declined 3%. Dryland cropland with irrigation potential fell 2%, and dryland cropland without irrigation potential decreased 1%. In contrast, grazing land and hayland values increased between 4% and 7% as strong cattle prices supported demand for pasture acres.

Average cash rental rates in Nebraska followed a similar trend. Rental rates for dryland and irrigated cropland declined between 1% and 9% across the state, reflecting lower commodity prices and tighter margins for crop producers. In contrast, rental rates for pasture and cow-calf pairs increased about 4% to 5% compared with the previous grazing season.

Cash Rents 
Northeast NE - Pivot Irrigated $360 - -1%  -  Dryland $245 - -2%
Eastern NE - Pivot Irrigated $335 - -3%  -  Dryland $220 - -6% 

“Flexible lease provisions can help landowners and tenants manage production and price risk when margins are tight,” Jansen said. “Factors such as crop prices, input costs and drought conditions all play a role in how lease agreements are structured.”

The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report is available on the Center for Agricultural Profitability website at https://cap.unl.edu/realestate. Two virtual workshops covering 2026 land values, cash rental rates and leasing strategies will be held March 24 and 26. Registration is free at the webpage above.

The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Report is the product of an annual survey of land professionals, including appraisers, farm and ranch managers and agricultural bankers. Results are divided by land class and agricultural statistics district. Land values and rental rates in the report are averages of survey participants’ responses by district. Actual land values and rental rates may vary depending on the quality of the parcel and local market for an area. Preliminary land values and rental rates are subject to change as additional surveys are returned. The final version of the report will be published in July.



Nebraska LEAD Program Class 43 Graduates Recognized at Annual Banquet

The Nebraska LEAD Program honored the 30 Fellows of Class 43 during the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council’s Annual Recognition Banquet, held Friday, March 13, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. Hosted in partnership with UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the banquet celebrated the completion of the two-year leadership development program and recognized key supporters who make the program possible.

During the evening, Nebraska LEAD Class 43 Fellows shared insights from their experiences in the program and highlighted key takeaways from their two-year journey. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel provided congratulatory remarks to the class in a prerecorded video that was shown during the event. Additionally, Nebraska LEAD Class 14 was celebrated as 2026 marks 30 years since the cohort graduated from the program.

Later in the evening, Dr. Randy Bertolas was honored with the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association’s "Allen G. Blezek Friend of LEAD Award" in recognition of his dedication to agricultural leadership in the state. Dr. Bertolas is the chair of the history, politics and geography department at Wayne State College and has spent over 25 years helping coordinate the "Global Perspectives" seminar held each year in Wayne.

"I’m truly proud to have worked alongside this group of emerging leaders in Nebraska" said Kurtis Harms, director of the Nebraska LEAD Program.

"Class 43 has shown exceptional leadership promise, and I’m confident they will leave a meaningful and lasting mark on agriculture, Nebraska and beyond."

Nebraska LEAD 43 Fellows (by hometown) who completed the program at the March 13 recognition banquet are:  
CALLAWAY: Lucy Kimball
CARLETON: Troy Kane
DENTON: Payton Schaneman
EDISON: Amy Warner
ERICSON: Neleigh Gehl
FREMONT: Chandler Maly
GOTHENBURG: McKinley Harm
GRETNA: Brennan Costello
HASTINGS: Lily Ziehmer
HAY SPRINGS: Austin Weyers
HOWELLS: Tyler Morton
HUMPHREY: Eric Wemhoff
KEARNEY: Anthony Finke, Dustin Rohde, Trevor Spath
LINCOLN: Luke Baldridge, Sally Welsh
LONG PINE: Spencer Shifflet
LOUP CITY: Cale Harrington
MONROE: Courtney Nelson
MILFORD: Jared Stauffer
MINATARE: Austin Kniss
MULLEN: Kyle Phillips
NEHAWKA: Sophia Svanda
NORFOLK: Jake Judge
ORD: Ben Edwards
OSCEOLA: Anthony Mestl
SUPERIOR: John Sullivan 
WAHOO: Jacobi Swanson
WAYNE: Bobby Reifenrath

As part of their graduation, each Fellow received a digital badge from UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, recognizing their intensive two-year study of agricultural leadership, communication and global perspectives. This micro-credential serves as a formal acknowledgment of their skills and can be shared with employers and professional networks to highlight their leadership development.

With the graduation of Class 43, the Nebraska LEAD Program has over 1,200 alumni that have completed the leadership development experience since its founding more than 40 years ago. These alumni serve in key leadership roles across agriculture, business and policy, furthering the program’s mission of strengthening Nebraska’s agricultural industry and rural communities.

The Nebraska LEAD Program provides participants with in-depth leadership training through 12 in-state seminars, a national study/travel experience, and an international study/travel seminar. For more information, or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 45 which begins in the fall of 2026, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program online at lead.unl.edu. The application deadline is June 15. 



Ricketts Introduces Senate Companion to Steil’s Stop Insider Trading Act

Wednesday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Stop Insider Trading Act in the Senate.  This is companion legislation to Congressman Bryan Steil’s (R-WI-01) bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks and mandates a seven-day public notice period before any stock sales can be executed.  Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Jon Husted (R-OH), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Todd Young (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Jim Risch (R-ID) co-sponsored this resolution.

“No lawmaker should ever profit from insider information.  Nebraskans send us to Congress to build a better country.  Public service is a privilege, not a profit center,” said Senator Ricketts.  “Trust in Congress remains at an all-time low.  To fix that, we need to prove we are playing by the same rules as everyone else.  In Nebraska, we value a hard day's work and playing fair.  This bill brings Nebraska common sense to the Senate floor to ensure Congress serves the people.”

“Public trust in elected officials is essential to our democratic process, and those who sent us here deserve to know Members of Congress are not profiting from the positions they hold,” said Senator Fischer.  “The Stop Insider Trading Act ensures Members cannot use insider knowledge for financial gain, and offers a clear, common-sense approach to how Congress regulates itself. I thank Senator Ricketts and House Administration Committee Chairman Steil for their leadership in restoring trust in those who serve.”

The Stop Insider Trading Act will:
    Implement a Total Ban on Buying: Prohibit Members, spouses, and dependent children from purchasing any new stocks in publicly traded companies.
    Mandate Transparency in Selling: Require public notice at least seven days, but no more than 14 days, in advance of any intended sale.
    Enforce Real Consequences: Establish a penalty of $2,000 or 10% of the investment value (whichever is greater), plus the forfeiture of any net gain realized from the sale.
    Calibration: Stop insider trading without preventing successful people from the private sector from serving. 



Nebraska Farm Bureau Endorses Pete Ricketts for U.S. Senate

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts has received the official endorsement by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC). Ricketts is seeking re-election to the U.S. Senate and earned the endorsement based on his long record of delivering results for Nebraska’s agricultural producers, according to Katie Olson, Nebraska Farm Bureau first vice president and NEFB-PAC chair.

“Sen. Pete Ricketts is a leader who understands the importance of agriculture to our state’s economy and the importance of keeping farmers and ranchers on their land. We’re supporting Sen. Ricketts because of his record of leadership and results,” said Olson.

Sen. Ricketts strongly supports growing markets for Nebraska’s agricultural products by expanding agricultural trade. He worked tirelessly to open new markets during his time as governor of Nebraska. He currently sits on the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, which holds authority over the EPA. This role places Sen. Ricketts in a significant position to oppose onerous EPA regulations, such as Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, new regulations on pesticides, and new climate regulations.

Sen. Ricketts has been a strong supporter of legislative efforts to secure E-15 usage year-round. He supported the One Big Beautiful Bill which extended the lower tax rates included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a key Farm Bureau priority, as well as some needed Farm Bill reforms including important improvements to the farm safety net including federal crop insurance.

“Sen. Ricketts has demonstrated his support for agriculture time and time again, and we value his dedication to serving the farm and ranch families of Nebraska. We’re proud to endorse Sen. Ricketts and look forward to continued work with him the Senate,” said Olson.

Sen. Ricketts earned the NEFB-PAC endorsement based on results of NEFB’s grassroots selection process, which involves gathering input from local County Farm Bureaus across the state.



Implications of the Middle East Conflict on U.S. Corn Farmers

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Wednesday called on Congress to pass legislation that will allow for the year-round sale of fuels with 15% ethanol blends, often called E15. Farmers and the ethanol industry are ready to deliver a solution to high prices at the pump impacting all U.S. drivers and support farmers' profitability. It's a win-win and an easy solution for Congress to deliver. 
 
The group also called on U.S. fertilizer companies to ask the Trump administration to remove duties on phosphate imports from Morocco to help reduce fertilizer costs for farmers.  

"With corn prices low and input costs high, Iowa’s corn growers are facing a fourth year of negative profitability—a situation made even more uncertain by the volatility in the Strait of Hormuz affecting global trade," said Mark Mueller, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President and Waverly farmer. "To protect our rural economy, we urge Congress to pass nationwide, year-round E15 immediately and call on continued exploration into the fertilizer pricing issues unfairly impacting farmers." 

NCGA, ICGA and fellow state corn grower organizations have spent years pushing for passage of legislation that would remove an obsolete clause in the Clean Air Act that prohibits the sale of E15 during the summer months. Farmers have come close to securing passage of the legislation twice in recent months only to be thwarted before action was taken. 

“ICGA has been, and will continue to be, extremely outspoken about the need for passage of nationwide, year-round E15 and consolidation within the fertilizer industry,” said Mueller. “We have come close to achieving wins on both issues, but we call on Congress for action to officially get them across the finish line. Iowa corn farmers need and deserve the stability that comes with these wins—we cannot afford to slip back into the 1980s.” 



Weekly Ethanol Production for 3/13/2026

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending March 13, ethanol production scaled back 2.9% to a 6-week low of 1.09 million b/d, equivalent to 45.91million gallons daily. Output was 1.1% lower than the same week last year but 4.2% above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.5% to 1.11 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 17.02 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks bounced up 3.2% to 26.4 million barrels, the largest weekly level since mid-April 2025, driven by a 48-week high in the Midwest (PADD 2) and a two-year high in the West Coast (PADD 5). Stocks were 0.6% less than the same week last year but 0.6% above the three-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the East Coast (PADD 1) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, recoiled 5.6% to 8.73 million b/d (134.17 bg annualized). Demand was 1.0% less than a year ago and 1.5% below the three-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol slid 2.8% to 876,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.47 bg annualized. Net inputs were 2.2% less than year-ago levels and 1.3% below the three-year average.

Ethanol exports decreased 7.4% to an estimated 174,000 b/d (7.3 million gallons/day). It has been more than two years since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.



All 8 Retail Fertilizer Prices Higher, With 4 Up Significantly

Higher fertilizer prices are here.

Average retail prices for all eight of the major fertilizers were higher than last month during the second week of March 2026, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. Half of the nutrients had a sizeable price increase, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. Retail prices are rising due to the U.S.-Israel-led war with Iran.

The price of UAN28 saw the biggest jump, up 13% compared to last month. The liquid nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $464 per ton. The price of urea was 12% higher than last month at $674 per ton. Anhydrous was 7% more expensive compared to last month with an average price of $924/ton. The price of UAN32 was up 5% from last month at $489/ton.  Anhydrous was above the $900-per-ton level for the first time since the second week of May 2023. That week, the price was $910/ton.

Prices for the remaining four nutrients were slightly higher. DAP had an average price of $851/ton, MAP $889/ton, potash $488/ton and 10-34-0 $670/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.73/lb.N, anhydrous $0.56/lb.N, UAN28 $0.83/lb.N and UAN32 $0.76/lb.N.

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier. 10-34-0 is 4% higher; potash is 9% more expensive MAP is 10% higher; DAP is 11% more expensive; urea is 14% higher; urea, anhydrous and UAN32 are all 23% higher and UAN28 is 31% higher looking back to last year.



Farmers Applaud Action to Increase Fertilizer Supplies

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on President Trump’s decision to waive Jones Act regulations for fuel and fertilizer imports coming through America’s ports, as Farm Bureau requested.

“Farmers applaud President Trump for temporarily waiving Jones Act regulations to allow more ships to bring critical fuel and fertilizer materials to America’s ports. Spring planting season is already underway and the jump in fertilizer and fuel costs, as well as the threat of shortages, sent shockwaves across rural America at a time when farmers are already grappling with low commodity prices and high inflation.

“Farm Bureau sent several recommendations to the president that would help farmers get needed supplies, including the waiver announced today. We’re pleased that he understands the market pressures they face and the short window they have to get crops into the ground. We look forward to working with the administration on further steps to ensure farmers have the resources necessary to grow the food we all rely on.”



The United States and Mexico Announce Next Steps in Bilateral Discussions in Advance of the USMCA Joint Review

 U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard met today to kick off bilateral technical discussions in advance of the USMCA Joint Review on July 1.

Technical teams were instructed to review specific options for increasing U.S. and Mexican production and manufacturing employment, while limiting non-market inputs into North American supply chains. During the technical discussions, the groups discussed gaps in key North American supply chains and policy options to address those gaps, including through increased cooperation on economic security, rules of origin, and complementary trade actions. 

Ambassador Greer and Secretary Ebrard instructed the technical teams to establish a regular sequence of meetings to advance these discussions and identify key deliverables ahead of the July 1 Joint Review.



Checkoff Launches Online Database To Help Farmers Find Grant Opportunities

The dairy checkoff’s new online tool is designed to help dairy farmers and their advisors more easily identify grants and funding opportunities for conservation and on-farm improvements.

The Funding Opportunities Database, available through the Dairy Conservation Navigator, organizes federal, state and private funding programs into a single searchable platform tailored to dairy operations. The free resource is available at https://www.dairyconservation.org/grants

For many farmers, identifying funding programs can be one of the most challenging steps in pursuing new projects. Agricultural grants are spread across multiple federal agencies, state initiatives and private organizations, each with different deadlines, priorities and application processes.

“Dairy farms operate as highly integrated systems,” said Bridgett Hilshey, senior director of environmental stewardship at Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). “Farmers are managing livestock, cropland, manure, water and energy use all at the same time. That creates many opportunities for improvement but also makes identifying the right funding sources more complicated.”

The database was developed to help streamline that process by bringing conservation and business-focused funding opportunities together in one place.

The tool allows farmers and advisors to search programs by state or county and filter opportunities by funding focus areas such as manure management, energy, cropland, water quality or business development. Users can also sort by project type, eligibility requirements and funding levels to help identify programs that best fit specific projects.

The platform also identifies programs that are currently open, opening soon or recently closed, helping farmers and advisors plan for future funding cycles.

“Improving access to funding is one of the most consistent needs we hear from farmers and the organizations that support them,” added DMI’s Jacqi Coleman, who leads partnership and education workstreams for U.S. dairy’s environmental sustainability initiatives. “This database helps remove some of that friction by making it easier to see what’s available and connect farmers with the resources that can help move projects forward.”

For information about how the dairy checkoff is driving sales and building trust, visit www.dairycheckoff.com.