Ag Week pays tribute to state's most vital industry

Money doesn't grow on trees, but most of Nebraska doesn't have all that many trees, anyway.

What it does have is a lot of open land suitable for growing a variety of crops, from grass to wheat to corn and other grains, plus the sunshine that can be combined with precious water to produce crops that do, indeed, grow into money.

That's something we tend to take for granted in Nebraska, where grain elevators are more numerous than Starbucks and center-pivot irrigation systems more common than McDonald's franchises.

Officials are pausing this week to recognize Nebraska's number one industry during National Ag Week, March 17-23. Watch for a special section Thursday in the Gazette.

"Agriculture is our state's largest industry," said Gov. Dave Heineman. "Our farmers and ranchers work hard to raise the food, fuel and fiber we all use in our everyday lives. For those efforts, they deserve our appreciation." Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann agrees. "As a fourth generation farmer in Nebraska, I understand the contribution agriculture brings to the state and the world," he said. "Agriculture is our state's number one industry, and it is important to raise awareness by celebration National Ag Week.

Nebraska Ag Director Greg Ibach announced the availability of a new magazine called Nebraska Agriculture and You. Published by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the magazine is designed to share information about the state's agriculture industry with general consumers. "These days, many folks do not have a direct tie to a farm or ranch, so their knowledge of food production is limited," Ibach said. "In addition, today's agriculture is also about fuel and fiber and all the agribusinesses associated with these things," he said.

Nebraska FFA members will deliver the magazines to locations where the public can enjoy them, such as the waiting rooms of doctors, dentists and hair salons. They'll also be direct- mailed to some locations and circulated through public libraries, the Cooperative Extension service, chambers of commerce, and digitally at www.agr.ne.gov.

In related news, Gov. Heineman announced the opening of Nebraska's first China trade office in Shanghai, designed to promote value-added agriculture exports between Nebraska and China.

The office will provide business counseling, promotion of products and services, and help in identifying potential business partners. It will also concentrate on attracting more Chinese investment to Nebraska.

Nebraska is number one the nation in commercial red meat production, cattle slaughter, great northern bean production and popcorn production. Its top 10 commodities in cash receipts are cattle and calves, corn, soybeans, hogs, wheat, dairy products, chicken eggs, hay, sugar beets and dry beans, which represent 98 percent of the state's total cash receipts.

All that's only possible, of course, because of irrigation made possible in part because of our plentiful underground aquifers, which, if poured over the surface of the state, would have a depth of nearly 40 feet.

No, money doesn't grow on trees. But with careful stewardship and good management, our state's economy will continue to grow on a backbone of natural and human resources.