A recent report released by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Department of Agricultural Economics and the UNL Bureau of Business Research outlines the economic impact of agriculture to Nebraska. Using 2010 data, the report concludes that agriculture provides over 40 percent of the state’s total business receipts, 26.9 percent of the state’s gross state product and 24 percent of the state’s total workforce. In short, the report concludes that more than a fourth of Nebraska’s economy can be attributed to the agricultural production complex

Cantrell, Randolph L.

Lubben, Bradley

Vogt, Rebecca J.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Cornhusker Economics Agricultural Economics Department 7-2012 Rural Nebraskans’ Ties to Agriculture Rebecca J. Vogt Center for Applied Rural Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Randolph L. Cantrell Nebraska Rural Initiative, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bradley Lubben University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/agecon_cornhusker  Part of the Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons Vogt, Rebecca J.; Cantrell, Randolph L.; and Lubben, Bradley, "Rural Nebraskans’ Ties to Agriculture" (2012). Cornhusker Economics. 578. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/agecon_cornhusker/578 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agricultural Economics Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Cornhusker Economics by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. CORNHUSKERECONOMICSUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln ExtensionJuly 11, 2012Institute of Agriculture & Natural ResourcesDepartment of Agricultural Economicshttp://agecon.unl.edu/cornhuskereconomicsRural Nebraskans’ Ties to AgricultureMarket ReportYr Ago4 WksAg 7/6/12Livestock and Products, Weekly AverageNebraska Slaughter Steers,  35-65% Choice, Live Weight. . . . . . . .Nebraska Feeder Steers,   Med. & Large Frame, 550-600 lb.. . . .Nebraska Feeder Steers,  Med. & Large Frame 750-800 lb. . . . .Choice Boxed Beef,   600-750 lb. Carcass. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Western Corn Belt Base Hog Price  Carcass, Negotiated. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pork Carcass Cutout, 185 lb. Carcass,     51-52% Lean.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Slaughter Lambs, Ch. & Pr., Heavy,  Wooled, South Dakota, Direct. . . . . . .National Carcass Lamb Cutout,  FOB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$115.04165.56143.58179.3691.9696.77       *399.88$122.90179.39158.41197.1089.2084.68150.75346.94$116.91160.31149.04193.5298.5892.32122.50340.16Crops,  Daily Spot PricesWheat, No. 1, H.W.  Imperial, bu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Corn, No. 2, Yellow Nebraska City, bu.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Soybeans, No. 1, Yellow Nebraska City, bu.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grain Sorghum, No. 2, Yellow  Dorchester, cwt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oats, No. 2, Heavy  Minneapolis, MN , bu. . . . . . . . . . . . .6.376.7213.6010.393.625.816.2413.9810.043.177.397.1515.3711.463.84FeedAlfalfa, Large Square Bales,   Good to Premium, RFV 160-185  Northeast Nebraska, ton. . . . . . . . . . .Alfalfa, Large Rounds, Good  Platte Valley, ton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grass Hay, Large Rounds, Good  Nebraska, ton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dried Distillers Grains, 10% Moisture,   Nebraska Average. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wet Distillers Grains, 65-70% Moisture,   Nebraska Average. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185.00135.0072.50196.5066.50207.50135.0097.50211.5070.38207.50155.00125.00282.5096.12*No MarketA recent report released by the University ofNebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Department of AgriculturalEconomics and the UNL Bureau of Business Researchoutlines the economic impact of agriculture toNebraska. Using 2010 data, the report concludes thatagriculture provides over 40 percent of the state’s totalbusiness receipts, 26.9 percent of the state’s gross stateproduct and 24 percent of the state’s total workforce.In short, the report concludes that more than a fourth ofNebraska’s economy can be attributed to theagricultural production complex.1These facts demonstrate the importance ofagriculture to the state as a whole. But, how closely arenon-metropolitan Nebraskans tied to agriculture? TheNebraska Rural Poll has examined the importance ofagriculture to the state’s rural areas.The Nebraska Rural Poll is an annual survey ofrural Nebraskans that was started in 1996 to give localand state leaders a better understanding of the issues,challenges and concerns of Nebraska’s rural citizens.The Rural Poll has focused on such issues ascommunity, government policy, well-being and work.Core questions are included each year; over time, thesecore questions have provided insight about trends andchanges occurring in rural Nebraska. In addition, eachyear rural citizens and government officials identifykey issues or topics to include in the survey. Every Source: The 2010 Economic Impact of the Nebraska1Agricultural Production Complex. University of Nebraska-LincolnDepartment of Agricultural Economics Report No. 192, availableonline at http://agecon.unl.edu.Extension is a D ivision of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincolncooperating with the Counties and the U.S. Departm ent of Agriculture.University of Nebraska Extension educational program s abide with the non-discrim ination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Departm ent of Agriculture.year, a self-administered questionnaire is mailed inFebruary and March to approximately 6,500 randomlyselected households in the 84 non-metropolitancounties. The response rates have ranged from 37percent to 65 percent each year. For more informationabout  the Nebraska Rural  Pol l ,  seehttp://ruralpoll.unl.edu.In 2010, rural Nebraskans were asked a series ofquestions to determine their connection to agriculture.Most rural Nebraskans have farming or ranchinghistory in their family. Over one-half (52%) of ruralNebraskans were currently active in farming orranching or removed by only a single generation, andtwo-thirds (67%) were two generations or lessremoved from the farm or ranch (see Figure 1 on nextpage). These Nebraskans are likely more familiar withcommercial agriculture, having seen it first-handworking on the farm or ranch, growing up on the farmor ranch or visiting the farm or ranch of theirgrandparents. However, more non-metropolitanNebraskans say that they have no history of farmingor ranching in their family (30%) than are currentlyinvolved in farming or ranching (27%). These ruralNebraskans are likely to be less familiar withcommercial agriculture, a difference that caninfluence opinions and attitudes about agriculture andagricultural issues.Rural Nebraskans were also asked to what extenttheir economic well-being was dependent on the well-being of the agricultural industry. Over one-half(54%) of rural Nebraskans said their economic well-being is very much dependent on the well-being of theagricultural industry (see Figure 2 on next page).Almost one-quarter (24%) said some of theireconomic well-being is tied to the agriculturalindustry. When combined, over three-quarters (78%)feel their well-being is at least somewhat tied toagriculture. To further examine the dependence of ruralNebraskans on agriculture, the relationship betweentheir general well-being and farm income is analyzed.Each year, rural Nebraskans are asked a series ofquestions to examine their perceptions of their generalwell-being. Two of those questions examine theirperceptions of their current situation compared to fiveyears ago, and their perceptions of their future well-being. When examining the data for these questionsover the past 16 years, the condition of agricultureappears to have an effect on how rural Nebraskansview both their current situation as well as the future.When the change in the state’s net farm income isviewed simultaneously with the well-being data, theconfidence levels of rural Nebraskans (as measured bythe percent that believe they are either better offcompared to five years ago, and the percent thatbelieve they will be better off ten years from now),tend to move with or slightly behind changes in farmincome (see Figure 3 on page four). The one aberrationin the pattern occurs in 2003. Farm income changes in2002 and 2003 were partially affected by the timing offederal farm program legislation and payments. A newfarm bill written in 2002 changed the programs and theschedule of program payments to producers such thatpayments received during 2002 declined sharply beforerebounding substantially in 2003, skewing thepercentage change numbers shown in the graph. These data from the Nebraska Rural Poll highlightthe importance that agriculture plays in non-metropolitan Nebraska. Rural Nebraskans maintain astrong connection to agriculture.Becky Vogt, (402) 329-6251Survey Research ManagerCenter for Applied Rural InnovationUniversity of Nebraska-Lincolnrvogt2@unl.eduRandy Cantrell, (402) 472-0919University of Nebraska Rural InitiativeUniversity of Nebraska-Lincolnrcantrell1@unl.eduBradley D. Lubben, (402) 472-2235Extension Assistant Professorand Policy SpecialistDepartment of Agricultura EconomicsUniversity of Nebraska-Lincolnblubben2@unl.edFigure 1. Generations Removed from Farming/Ranching, 2010Figure 2. Economic Dependence on the Agricultural Industry, 2010Figure 3. All Things Considered, Do You Think that You Are (or Will Be) Better or Worse Off,                         1996 - 2011, Compared to Change in Nebraska Net Farm Income?* Farm income changes in 2002 and 2003 were affected by the timing of federal farm program legislation and payments.

Rural Nebraskans’ Ties to Agriculture

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Rural Nebraskans’ Ties to Agriculture

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