Robert Pore's Ag Blog

New technologies are changing the way of agriculture. Producers will learn how to benefit from these advancements at an agricultural technology conference.

The seventh annual Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association Conference and Trade Show will be Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island.

"The theme of this year's conference is putting technology to work," said University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator Dave Varner. "Conference participants will learn how to employ technology to improve efficiencies across their operations."

One of the featured speakers at the 2007 conference is Joseph Berry, University of Denver Keck Scholar in Geosciences. Berry pioneered multiple components of geographical information systems and specializes in looking at related issues "beyond mapping." He focuses on applications that fully incorporate map analysis into decision-making through spatial consideration of social and economic factors.

Newell Kitchen, soil scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, will share new nitrogen management strategies that Missouri producers initiated last summer. Sensor-controlled commercial applicator rigs applying variable rate nitrogen fertilizer could be on the horizon for Nebraska producers.

Participants may choose from 15 concurrent sessions that address topics such as spatial weed management, establishing rural RTK farm networks, when and how to choose autosteering, purchasing and maintaining your home computer, podcasting applications in agriculture, multimedia mapping in agriculture, making the most of your yield data, using electrical conductivity to understand your soils better, using aerial photography in natural resources management, and a demonstration of open source software Manifold GIS software.

Advance registration is $85 if postmarked by Jan. 26 and $110 thereafter for NeATA members, $110 and $135 respectively for non-members. Those planning to attend can register by sending their name, address, phone number, e-mail address and payment to the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association, Inc., 1206 W. 23rd St., Fremont, Neb. 68025-2504.

Conference brochures are available at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Offices, at the http://neata.org/ Web site, or by calling (800) 830-4855.

Six Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits are available to conference participants. Additional credits are available for pre-conference workshops focusing on developing podcasts and analyzing precision agriculture data.
Reservations can be made at the Midtown Grand Island Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center. Call (800) 548-5542 for reservations.

The conference is sponsored by the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, a division of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information, call Varner at (402) 727-2775 or e-mail dvarner1@unl.edu.

Labels: Ag News: Rural events

Lincoln — Nebraska State Annette Dubas (34th Legislative District) introduced legislation Wednesday that will relieve property tax burden based on annual income for agricultural owner/operated properties.

Also known as a circuit breaker, the legislation allows for property tax credits when property tax reaches a certain percentage of household income. The bill is being co-sponsored by a coalition of rural Senators.

Research has shown great disparity in property taxes among states, with Nebraska residents having some of the highest property valuations and taxes among top agricultural producing states and neighboring states.

Great disparities also exist within the state. Data shows that the heaviest property tax burdens occur in rural, agriculturally-dependent counties and counties with low per capita income. Nebraska is home to five of the nation’s 15 lowest income counties – Loup, Blaine, Grant Arthur, and McPherson counties. The lowest income counties in the state are both rural and agriculturally dependent (as determined by USDA county typology).

It is clear that the combination of property tax dependence for many public institutions and low rural incomes have resulted in tremendous tax burdens for many rural residents, particularly the lowest-income rural citizens in agriculturally dependent counties. (Rural Research and Analysis Program at the Center for Rural Affairs Policy Brief)

The Legislature considered a property tax ‘circuit breaker’ that would have provided a state income tax credit when property tax obligations on agricultural property reached 4 to 18 percent of household income in years past. The idea stalled in committee.

Dubas said she has seen multiple property tax proposals over the past week, but none of them have targeted the population that "desperately needs relief."

"The growing disparity between rural and urban is an ever-growing issue that we need to consider as a state," she said. "I think we can all walk away and say that something has got to give on the local level, and stop blaming local governments for this problem. If the Governor is serious about sustaining a population in rural Nebraska than this idea will be one he supports. I want to make sure to get all the ideas on the table, including this one. You will notice that my bill is not calling for a certain dollar amount, or a certain rate percentage. It is just calling to those in high places to give these people something—any relief will help."

For more information access www.annettedubas.com/

For the Rural Research Brief access www.cfra.org/resources/issue_brief_property_taxes.htm

Labels: Ag News: Rural events