Agriculture

Spring is a busy time of year for our farmers and ranchers and this year is no different. What is different however is the impact that COVID-19 has had on our rural communities. With kids home and schooling from home, some farm/ranch spouses working from home or not able to work at all, the stress is very real for many. Those of us in agriculture know the work we do to produce food for the world is essential but be sure to take precautions to protect you and your family during these uncertain and unprecedented times.

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The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on agriculture is just beginning, but the potential for serious ramnifications are as high as in other sectors of the U.S. economy.

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*Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a two part column*

The one thing I admired most about Spain and Portugal was the slow pace. For example, they take Sundays very seriously as a day of rest. Both the Sunday we were in Spain, and the Sunday we were in Portugal, only a few people were out and about, the cities were bare, and most places were closed. As the tour guides simply said, “Sundays are a day of rest.”

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VIEWS FROM VANDEWALLE

RISK AND REWARD

WORKSHOPS

An upcoming Nebraska Extension workshop will help farmers develop marketing plans for 2020.

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Jim Jansen, University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural systems economist and Extension educator, reviews 2019 cash rent rates across the state with area farmers on Jan. 15, at the fairgrounds in Clay Center.

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*Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a two part column*

A few weeks ago, the thought of traveling abroad seemed dreadful to me. Being thousands of miles away from home, friends, and family?? A nightmare. I had never really been interested in learning about different cultures or other languages. I was happy and content in Nebraska, living my best life.

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HASTINGS—Cooperative Producers, Inc. (CPI) has partnered with Land O’Lakes to donate funds through the Land O’Lakes Foundation Member Co-op Match Program to local non-profit organizations.

The Clay Center Volunteer Fire Department was selected to receive $2,500 toward the purchase of a new Jaws of Life©.

The department’s previous Jaws of Life© unit was 41 years old. Parts and repairs have become obsolete for the equipment. The new unit consists of a 10,000 psi hydraulic power unit, cutter, spreader, and ram tools.

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VIEWS FROM VANDEWALLE

Deciding on an artificial versus real Christmas tree is a matter of personal preference. Growing up, we had an artificial tree mostly because my mom’s allergies were very sensitive to the smell of pines and our house was pretty small so having a small tree we knew would fit in our dining room was preferred. We did, however, one year have a pine tree that we cut out of our windbreak that needed to come down and I remember how big, beautiful and magical it was!

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Agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 now can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) program. Nebraska FSA offices across the state now are ready to accept applications.

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