Happy National Ag Week and National Ag Day (March 18)! What happens in ag impacts all Nebraskans as 1 in 4 Nebraska jobs are connected to ag. A strong ag economy (Nebraska ranks #1 in farm cash receipts of all commodities/capita) helps Nebraska’s overall economy. In 2023, Nebraska agriculture generated $31.6 billion in sales, with livestock accounting for 58% and crops for 42%. In 2024, Nebraska had 44,300 farms and ranches, the average size of which was 993 acres. The following are from the 2025 Ag Facts card: https://nda.nebraska.gov/facts.pdf and brochure: https://nda.nebraska.gov/publications/ne_ag_facts_brochure.pdf.

#1: Nebraska’s largest ag sector is beef production with Nebraska leading the nation in beef and veal exports and commercial cattle slaughter. We are #2 in all cattle/calves, commercial red meat production, and all cattle on feed. “Calves born on one of Nebraska’s 17,000 cow/calf ranches typically spend the majority of their lives on grass before being sent to a feedlot for finishing.”

#1: Nebraska regained the top production in popcorn, is 1st in Great Northern bean production, and has the most irrigated acres in the nation at 7.86 million. We are 2nd for pinto bean production and 4th in the nation for all dry edible bean, dry edible peas, and light red kidney bean production.

#2: Nebraska is #2 in ethanol production capacity. Nebraska produces around 2.3 billion gallons of ethanol annually from 24 ethanol plants. Nebraska is also #2 in bison production, no-till cropland acres, proso millet and alfalfa hay production.

#3: Nebraska is #3 in corn production and exports, cash receipts of all farm commodities, and jumped up to #3 in all hay production.

#4-7: Nebraska is ranked #4 land in farms and ranches, in sorghum and sunflower production, and for cover crop acres. We rank 5^th in soybean exports and production. One bushel of soybeans can make 1.5 gallons of biodiesel. We also rank 6^th for production of sugar beets. Nebraska is 6^th for all hogs and pigs on farms and in commercial hog slaughter. “Six of the most common cuts of pork have, on average, 16 percent less fat and 27 percent less saturated fat than 20 years ago.” Nebraska ranks 7^th in pastureland acres.

Nebraska is the 11^th largest winter wheat producing state. “The average bushel of wheat weighs 60 pounds and can make 64 loaves of bread.” We are also ranked 11^th in potato production with 1/3 of the state’s potatoes being made into potato chips.  We are ranked 12^th for organic cropland acres.

Nebraska ranks 14^th nationally in egg production with more than 9.1 million birds in commercial egg laying facilities producing more than 2.6 billion eggs a year. We rank 25th in total milk production. There are around 78,000 sheep and lambs raised in Nebraska and also more than 24,000 meat goats and around 3,500 dairy goats.

Nebraska has more than 30 wineries and tasting rooms located across the state. There are more than 575 produce growers in Nebraska and we have “approximately 100 farmers markets, 167 roadside stands and 33 u-pick operations.” There are also approximately 39,000 bee colonies in Nebraska. There’s so much to be proud of regarding agriculture in Nebraska! May we seek to celebrate and support ag now and in the future! Happy National Ag Week! Reminder of the Seward County Ag Banquet on Monday evening, March 24th at the Fairgrounds in Seward (5:30 p.m. social hour, 6:30 p.m. meal and program) to celebrate ag locally!