October Free Farm Finance Clinic Dates

Farmers and ranchers are invited to attend a FREE clinic.  The clinics are one-on-one, not group sessions, and are confidential.  The Farm Finance clinic gives you a chance to meet with an experienced Ag law attorney and Ag financial counselor.  These clinic staff specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters.  Here is an opportunity to obtain an experienced outside opinion on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.  Bring your questions!

The FREE farm and ranch clinics will be in these locations:

  • Norfolk – Wednesday, October 2

  • Grand Island – Thursday, October 3

  • North Platte – Thursday, October 10     

  • Lexington – Thursday, October 17

  • Fairbury – Wednesday, October 23

  • Valentine – Tuesday, October 29

  • Norfolk – Wednesday, October 30

To sign up for a clinic or for more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline: 1-800-464-0258.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor the farm finance clinics.

March Free Farm and Ranch Clinics

Farmers and ranchers are invited to attend a FREE clinic.  The clinics are one-on-one, not group sessions, and are confidential.  The Farm Finance clinic gives you a chance to meet with an experienced Ag law attorney and Ag financial counselor.  These clinic staff specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters.  Here is an opportunity to obtain an experienced outside opinion on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.  Bring your questions!

The FREE farm and ranch clinics will be in these locations:

  • Grand Island — Thursday, March 7th
  • Norfolk – Friday, March 8th
  • North Platte – Thursday, March 14th
  • Fairbury – Thursday, March 14th
  • Norfolk – Tuesday, March 19th
  • Valentine – Wednesday, March 20th
  • Lexington – Thursday, March 21st

To sign up for a clinic or for more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline: 1-800-464-0258.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor the farm finance clinics.

SCORE Workshops for Beginning Farmers

Three free workshops for beginning farmers will be available in the Omaha area through SCORE, USDA and FSA. The workshops are scheduled August 20, September 10, and September 17. Topics covered in each workshop will be:

  • Marketing/social media;
  • Bookkeeping/accounting;
  • Sales tax and general taxes; and
  • Loan/farm programs.

These programs are focused to help make your farm business more successful. To register, please go to www.omaha.score.org. Please see attached flyer below for more details.

Workshop Flyer 081418

Last Day to Register~ Answering the Call Farm Tour

You are invited to join us for the Answering the Call Veteran Farm Tour on Thursday, May 24. This event, hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs and Legal Aid of Nebraska will showcase the farms of veterans who have transitioned from military service to a career in farming. Veterans interested in or currently engaged in farming or ranching or those looking to mentor or transition a farm or ranch to a beginning veteran farmer are encouraged to attend.

Tour stops will include Robinette Farms, Lakehouse Farm and Prairie Plate Restaurant and Barreras Family. The tour will depart from the Sesostris Shrine parking lot at, 1050 Saltillo Road, Roca, NE. The bus will begin loading at 8:30 am, depart promptly at 9 am and return by 4:45 pm.

There is no cost to attend. Transportation to the farm sites and lunch will be provided.

Please register by May 21 at cfra.org/events/AnsweringTheCallFarmTour or call the Center for Rural Affairs at 402.687.2100x 1032.

May 24- Answering the Call: Veteran Farm Tour

You are invited to join us for the Answering the Call Veteran Farm Tour on Thursday, May 24. This event, hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs and Legavfc 300x250l Aid of Nebraska will showcase the farms of veterans who have transitioned from military service to a career in farming. Veterans interested in or currently engaged in farming or ranching or those looking to mentor or transition a farm or ranch to a beginning veteran farmer are encouraged to attend.

Tour stops will include Robinette Farms, Lakehouse Farm and Prairie Plate Restaurant and Barreras Family. The tour will depart from the Sesostris Shrine parking lot at, 1050 Saltillo Road, Roca, NE. The bus will begin loading at 8:30 am, depart promptly at 9 am and return by 4:45 pm.

There is no cost to attend. Transportation to the farm sites and lunch will be provided.

Please register by May 21 at cfra.org/events/AnsweringTheCallFarmTour or call the Center for Rural Affairs at 402.687.2100x 1032.

“A Visit to Slow Foods Nation, Denver 2017” Webinar available through SARE

A webinar is scheduled for Friday, March 16th at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. as part of the Nebraska SARE Webinar Series. The webinar title is, “A Visit to Slow Foods Nation, Denver 2017”. This past summer Jerry and Renee Cornett of Prairie Plate Restaurant near Waverly, NE received a SARE Travel Scholarship to participate in this event. This event focuses on a number of food issues and there are several opportunities to participate in different discussions and programs. More than 10,000 chefs, policymakers, farmers and food lovers from all over the world will be talking about food justice, sustainability and management. There was discussion over agricultural issues and all kinds of food were there as well. Jerry and Renee will talk about their experience at this event during the webinar. The link to the webinar is:  https://unl.zoom.us/j/193166489. This webinar will be recorded if you are unable to participate at this time.  If you have questions, contact Gary Lesoing at (402) 274-4755.

Friday Facts, Fun and Food

I’ve been driving around Nebraska this week and I have to say — I love fall.  The crispness in the air, the harvest coming in, fresh apples.  But winter feels like it is rapidly approaching.  Before winter happens though, some possible items to keep you warm:

Friday Facts, Fun and Food

After the turmoil the past two weeks, how about some non-government shutdown reads for your weekend:

Friday Facts, Fun and Food

Welcome to the end of another week, or Week Two of the government shutdown.  In an effort to distract from the shutdown, here are some other interesting bits of information:

A helpline is established for anyone impacted by the South Dakota blizzard.

Volunteers are helping pick up fields after the tornadoes in northeast Nebraska, southeast South Dakota, and northwest Iowa to assist in the harvest.

Information on the Affordable Care Act as applicable to agriculture is in Cornhusker Economics.

Following up from last week, additional information on Monsanto’s buy of Climate Corporation is here.

Perhaps land values will remain steady and perhaps increase?

Combining the fun and food portion of this post, check out this recipe for pumpkin soup, using the pumpkin as the soup bowl.