During a drought, some producers may decide drylotting cattle. Photo by Chabella Guzman Nebraska Extension - As drought conditions continue to affect much of Nebraska, beef producers are being forced to make difficult decisions about herd and forage management. To support producers navigating these challenges, Nebraska Extension will host a free webinar on Thursday, June 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mountain Time / 7:30 to 9 p.m. Central Time. The webinar, "Management Options in D

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge is opening up added grazing opportunities for the upcoming spring and summer season through its cooperative agriculture program. The available pasture units range from approximately 100 to 500 acres and are located on refuge property south of Valentine, Nebraska. Applications are currently being accepted from interested producers. Immediately following the historic wildfires in Nebraska and loss of over 800,000 grazing acres, both state and

Senator Deb Fischer, R-NE U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation allowing the year-round sale of E15: “After years of fighting for year-round E15, I am encouraged to see the House finally approve this effort today. Though long overdue, this is a major step toward securing stability and certainty for American producers and consumers – without any government mandates. I commend my fellow Nebras

Grain sorghum can be a summer option for forages needing limited water. Photo by Chabella Guzman With limited water availability this summer for irrigators dependent on canal water, summer annual forages may provide an opportunity to grow cover crops on prevent-plant acres that will likely have significant value as a forage resource due to drought conditions. Summer annual grasses can produce about 1 ton of forage for every 2.5 to 3.5 inches of water available to the crop.

Ricketts' constituent casework staff will have mobile office hours around the region beginning Thursday May 14 Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) announced his constituent casework staff will be hosting Mobile Office Hours around the state. At Mobile Office Hours, Ricketts’ staff will be on-site to assist Nebraskans with their casework needs. If Nebraskans can’t get an answer in a timely manner or feel they have been treated unfairly, Ricketts and his staff may be able

The letter was signed by the entire NE delegation in DC Today, U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and U.S. Representatives Mike Flood (NE-01), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Adrian Smith (NE-03) sent a letter to President Donald Trump supporting Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen’s request for a major disaster declaration following wildfires across the state. Read the letter below: Dear Mr. President: We write in support of Governor Jim Pillen’s request for a major

Suspension of certain tariff's could lead to more beef import, says the cattle producer group. The White House today announced a 200-day suspension of certain tariff-rate quotas for beef, a move that is expected to increase imports of foreign beef into the United States at a time when the U.S. cattle herd has already declined to historically low levels. Tariff-rate quotas are a means of limiting the quantity of foreign beef by establishing country-specific annual quantity lim

Senator Ricketts' Weekly Column This month, we celebrate Nebraska as the Beef State. Agriculture is the heart and soul of our state, and beef is a cornerstone. We’re recognizing the hard-working producers who make that possible. That’s why I introduced a resolution that designates May as National Beef Month. This resolution honors Nebraska cattlemen and women. Overall, our cattle account for about $16 billion of cash receipts for Nebraska’s economy. Last year, we led the

The R-CALF USA convention will be June 16-18 in Rapid City BILLINGS, Mont., May 6, 2026—R-CALF USA today released the speaker lineup and agenda for its 2026 National Convention and Trade Show, set for June 16–18 at The Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota. Registration is now open. At a time when consolidation, market volatility and global pressures continue to reshape the cattle industry, the convention will bring together hundreds of producers, industry leaders and policy e

Farm Credit Services of America shares lender insights on capital management, volatility, and financial decision‑making in a high‑value beef market . As the U.S. beef industry recognizes Beef Month this May, Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) joins in recognizing beef producers for their essential role in feeding families, strengthening rural communities, and sustaining a safe, reliable food supply for the nation. At the same time, producers are navigating one of th

From R-CALF USA BILLINGS, Mont., May 4, 2026—Today, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the White House held a press conference outlining ongoing efforts to examine competition and market concentration in the cattle and beef supply chain. “Today’s joint press conference was unprecedented. It demonstrated how seriously the Administration is taking the ongoing problem of concentration in cattle and beef markets,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

The resolution was introduced by Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced a resolution to designate May 2026 as Beef Month in America. Ricketts is a longtime champion — and enjoyer — of Nebraska beef. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) cosponsored this resolution. “Nebraska is the beef state. Last year, we led the nation with over $1.75 billion

From the Nebraska Farmers' Union The House passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 on Thursday morning by a vote of 224-200. Three Republicans were opposed and five did not vote. Fourteen Democrats crossed party lines to vote yes and one did not vote. All three of Nebraska's Representatives - Mike Flood (CD1), Don Bacon (CD2), and Adrian Smith (CD3) - voted yea. The House's successful vote marks the farthest a farm bill has made it in Congress since the most r

Producers and landowners interested in participating in CRP should contact their local FSA county office before the May 29 deadline.   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP) starting May 4, 2026, through May 29, 2026. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers Grassland CRP, a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables

Senators Ricketts (R-NE) and Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the legislation Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act. The bipartisan legislation is co-led by Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). The bill requires cell-cultivated protein and plant-based alternative protein products to bear an accurate label, clearly differentiating these products from meat and poultry products. The bill also prohibits th

The governor will meet with the UK's chief trade negotiator, Graham Floater, among others. A short trip to London this week will provide Governor Jim Pillen an opportunity to tout Nebraska beef, ethanol production, and discuss business opportunities related to energy production. The Governor’s transatlantic visit kicks off Wednesday and will wrap up Thursday night. During that time, he will meet with members of the U.S. Embassy and others, including the UK’s chief trade nego

“Wildfire response is a shared responsibility, and USDA will remain vigilant,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today issued a new Secretarial Memorandum (PDF, 882 KB) and letter (PDF, 932 KB) directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to heighten national wildfire readiness, accelerate community-focused risk reduction, and strengthen firefighter health and safety for the 2026 fire year. “Under President

From Senator Tanya Storer's "Capitol Conversations: From Pasture to Policy" Every Nebraska rancher who has moved a herd of cattle across a public highway understands the momentary confusion that can occur when a vehicle crests the hill, and there's brief uncertainty about what may happen next. We live in a world where common sense is simply not as common and more and more drivers have little to no understanding of cattle. Until now, Nebraska law provided no clarity on the r

FSA will begin accepting applications Monday April 27 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting applications on Monday, April 27, for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) in several Nebraska counties impacted by March wildfires. ECP has been authorized for implementation in these counties to address damages from these wildfires: Morrill Fire: Arthur, Garden, Grant, Keith and Morrill Cottonwood Fire: Dawson and Lincoln Road 20

The new website is now available, according to Natalie Jones, IANR Communications Following historic wildfires that have burned nearly one million acres of Nebraska grazing lands this spring, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has launched a new online hub that integrates science, mapping and field-based documentation in one place ( https://wildfire.unl.edu ). The resource — the first of its kind focused on working grasslands — is designed to track and monitor long-term rec