For the next two weeks, in celebration of National Ag Week (March 17-23), I’m going to share info. on celebrating and supporting the importance of agriculture to Nebraska and, this week, focus on the local area I serve.

There are various events in area counties to celebrate the legacy and achievements of farmers, livestock producers, and those involved in the ag industry. These include area Corn Grower and Cattlemen Banquets, Ag Hall of Fame inductees, and various commodity and agribusiness awards. One such event is upcoming with the Seward Co. Ag Banquet to be held March 18^th at the Fairgrounds in Seward (5:30 p.m. social hour, 6:30 p.m. prime rib meal and program). Recognized this year with the Kiwanis Club of Seward Outstanding Farm Family Award will be Hamling Family Farms. The 2024 SCCDP Agribusiness Award recipient is Fehlhafer’s Inc., Ewald and Edith Fehlhafer. Congratulations! If you’re interested in attending, please contact Nick Bauer (402-429-6119) or Shelly Hansen (402-643-3636) to reserve tickets which are $35. It’s a great night to gather as the ag and area community to support and celebrate ag! And, as I think about all the challenges our farm families have faced the past 5 years (flooding, bomb cyclone, blizzards, covid, windstorms, hailstorms, drought, selling off cattle herds, tight economics…), I also see these events as opportunities to gather in community to support and encourage each other in times of hardship and in the making it through. Would encourage all of us to intentionally seek to support and encourage each other this coming year and to reach out when we need to talk!

Since the 1960’s over 10,000 Nebraska farm families have been recognized as Pioneer Farm Families (100 years old) and Heritage Farm Families (150 years old). The legacy of these family farms to survive that many years through all the changes and difficulties in ag is something to be celebrated! Please visit: https://aksarben.org/farm-family-awards/ to read some of the stories or if you’re a farm family who’d like to apply for one of these awards.

Since 2000, Nebraska has ranked #3 in U.S. Corn production behind Iowa (#1) and Illinois (#2) every year but 2002 and 2022. In those two years, Minnesota was #3 and we were #4. That just shows the tremendous impact that drought in Nebraska (2002) and the significant hail to the York/Seward/Hamilton/Clay/Fillmore/Adams county areas had (2022).

The land in this part of the State I serve is extremely productive! Honestly, I appreciated this statement more upon taking thousands of soil samples as part of on-farm research projects through the years.

These soils and productivity contribute to a strong seed corn industry and several industry and independent research companies in this part of the State. When looking at top corn-producing counties in the U.S., York and Hamilton often rise to the top in Nebraska. In 2020, York was the #8 corn-producing county in the U.S. and Hamilton was #11. In the 2017 census of ag, York was the top corn producing county in Nebraska followed by Hamilton Co. Windstorms and hail have impacted the ratings for York Co. the past few years. Details from the 2022 census of ag are to be released throughout 2024. Crop rotation is also important over time (2000-2023) which impact corn ratings but York and Hamilton have remained strong in U.S. corn production throughout that time period often ranking in the top 10-25 U.S. counties.

As an ag educator serving Nebraskans for nearly 20 years, I’m so grateful for the farm families I have the opportunity to serve each day and for the businesses supporting ag! As I think about the future of agriculture and the challenges we face locally and nationally, I’m concerned yet hopeful. There’s many unknowns, outside influences, difficult decisions, and much outside of our control. My hope and prayer is that the people in our rural and urban communities will choose to appreciate, celebrate, support, and protect the importance of agriculture to the economies, well-being, and stability of our local communities, counties, state, and nation.