CLICK TO LISTEN:
KRVN Farm Broadcaster Marlin Bohling "Calls from the Cab" with Seth Gruber of Eustis, Nebraska

Dave Thorell is set and ready. We are happy to see so many wonderful people here at Husker Harvest Days.

The 24th annual Nebraska Governor's Ag Conference was held February 15 & 16 in Kearney.  A tradition that began with Governor Kay Orr and has remained regardless of who resides in the Governor's mansion.  It is an opportunity to focus on the importance of agriculture to the state and learn from some of today's policy and thought leaders.  Current Governor, Dave Heineman is pleased that the Nebraska economy is still strong, thanks in large part to agriculture.

 

The annual Mid-America Alfalfa Expo was held in Kearney.  If you are involved in alfalfa or forage production it is a must attend event.  One of the features of this year's expo was presentations on making decisions when it comes to keeping the "family" in "family farm", from Dr. Ron Hansen from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.  Ken Rahjes talks with  Dr. Ron Hansen

Also at the expo, the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association awarded their Producer of the Year to the Rolling Hills Hay Company of Albion - Dean, Jeff and Andy Eickhoff. Ken talks with Dean Eickhoff 

 

Members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Cattlewomen, National Cattlemen's Beef Board and other stakeholders have gathered in Nashville to discuss the future of the beef industry.  Nebraskan's will take leadership roles at the conclusion of the meeting.  J.D. Alexander, cattle feeder from Pilger will spend the next year as President of the NCBA while Craig Uden from Elwood takes the reins as Chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils.  Click on the highlighted links to hear interviews with these leaders.

One of the larger farm events that takes place in the winter months is the annual No-Till On The Plains conference in Salina, Kansas.  This is the 16th year it has been held and a record crowd of over 1,400 farmers from across the country and the world come to learn about the latest research and technologies that impact a no-till farming system.  Over the two days attendees heard from many long time no-till operators and from scientists and researchers like Dr. Dwayne Beck from South Dakota. Dr. Ron Hanson, from the University of Nebraska also presented his popular seminars on  You can by the family farm.. but remember I still own it,  and  Multi -Generation family farming. 

The annual Nebraska Ag Classic moved to January.  It was a time for many agriculture commodity groups and other ag organizations to hold their annual meetings, set policy and hear from newsmakers.  We caught up with a couple of the state presidents of the grain commodities: Carl Soucek, President of the Nebraska Corn Growers and Dayton Christensen, President of the Nebraska Wheat Growers.  Also Chris Galen spoke on behalf of the U.S. Farmer and Rancher Alliance. 

Ne Corn Growers Carl Sousek 

Ne Wheat Growers Dayton Christensen

USFRA Chris Galen


The Nebraska Ag Classic moves back to it's traditional December schedule and will be at the Grand Island Mid-Town Holiday Inn.

The Nebraska Cattlemen are holding their annual meeting and trade show in Kearney.  Much of the focus this year is on how things are working at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the nationwide group in which Nebraska Cattlemen are an affiliate.

At the Nebraska Farm Bureau annual meeting in Kearney, delegates elected Axtell farmer Steve Nelson President and Mark McHargue, Central City farmer, 1st Vice-President. 
 
Governor Dave Heineman and Nebraska Director of Agriculture Greg Ibach congratulate newly elected NeFB President Steve Nelson.  KRVN/Rural Radio Networks' Ken Rahjes just concluded an interview with Nelson.

The Annual meeting of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation is underway in Kearney.  It is one of reflection but also anticipation as one the highlights of Monday's agenda was the final annual address of Keith Olsen, Perkins County farmer who is retiring as President of the organization.  But later on in the day delegates heard from three members who would like to serve as President:  1st Vice President, Steve Nelson from Axtell, Second Vice President, Mark McHarge  from Central City and former board member Larry Hudkins from Malcom.  Elections will be held at the end of resolution discussion on Tuesday.

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis dedicated several new building projects on campus Friday, including the Agriculture Industry Education Center. College Dean Weldon Sleight says it will provide a great opportunity for students with an auditorium along with several large teaching classrooms, a computer classroom and laboratories for plant physiology, tissue culture, biology and chemistry. Another building project was an addition to the veterinary technology complex that Sleight says includes a teaching clinic, large animal surgery areas, animal holding areas and "some good laboratory space for our students to learn animal health techniques". There are also two new residence halls and a biomass energy project that will use red cedar chips to help heat the campus.

Dean Sleight says they are hopeful the investment will take NCTA to the next level in producing "the next generation of farmers, ranchers and rural business owners". He adds that if students come there and also learn the principles of entrepreneurship, they will be able to return and contribute to Nebraska's rural communities. Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Vice Chair Ronnie Green described the dedication as "a momentous day for agriculture in Nebraska and an investment for the good of the state". He says the new projects grows the college's capacity to essentially double the current student enrollment from 330 to 600 in a future years.

Funding for construction was led by an $8.7 Million Legislative appropriation and donations by 200 individuals, businesses and organizations bringing the total construction costs to $15 Million.

-O-

     Listen to our interview with IANR Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green...

             Ronnie Green Interview at NCTA