Nebraska CropWatch

Episode 226. The relationship between The Nature Conservancy and agriculture: Hannah Birge and Jacob Fritton

In this conversation, Eric Hunt speaks with Hannah Birgé and Jacob Fritton from the Nature Conservancy about the intersection of agriculture and conservation. They discuss their backgrounds, the changes in farming practices over generations, and the economic challenges farmers face. The conversation dives into the Nature Conservancy's approach to working with farmers, the concept of regenerative agriculture, and the importance of soil health. They also touch on technological advancements in farming, the utilization of data, and the idea of stackable enterprises for income diversification. The discussion concludes with reflections on the hope and concerns surrounding modern agriculture and the importance of collaboration and listening in extension work.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Nature Conservancy Team03:59 Backgrounds and Experiences of the Guests08:03 The Nature Conservancy's Role in Agriculture11:55 Economic Hurdles in Conservation Practices16:59 Understanding Regenerative Agriculture20:51 Balancing Agriculture and Conservation25:35 The Technological Evolution of Farming27:25 Data-Driven Decisions in Agriculture30:31 Stackable Enterprises: Diversifying Income in Agriculture35:40 The Role of Global Supply Chains in Agriculture41:28 Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Agriculture

Episode 225. Polar vortex stretching will be over soon

Episode 224. Seasonal outlook and look ahead to spring 2026

In this conversation, Eric Hunt discusses recent weather patterns, precipitation deficits, and the implications of La Niña on future weather conditions. He provides insights into drought conditions, snowpack levels, and seasonal weather predictions for the upcoming months, emphasizing the importance of these factors for agricultural planning and crop management.

Episode 223. State of the agricultural economy with Dr. Ernie Goss (Professor at Creighton)

In this episode, Dr. Ernie Goss (professor of Economics at Creighton) joins to talk about the state of the rural and regional economy, the impact of tariffs, why land is a good investment, why trade is still crucial, and China can play hardball with us more than our neighbors. Ernie ends by discussing the recent closure of the Tyson plant and the unintended consequences of recent political decisions. Ernie also reveals he is the grandson of a Georgia sharecropper and found his way to economics through love of Geography. 

Episode 222. Short update on Saturday snow and milder weather next week

Episode 221. Implications of polar vortex stretching or SSW: Dr. Judah Cohen (AER/MIT)

Episode 220. Karen Braun (Zaner): Pro Farmer Tour, Soybean purchases, and USDA Report analysis

In this episode, Karen Braun of Zaner comes on to talk about weather related challenges with the season's corn and soybean crops, what the USDA report showed today on yield and stock numbers, and what China is or more importantly isn't buying in terms of soybean and how that will affect acreage numbers next year. 

Episode 219: Record warm tomorrow and rain chances next week