Ag $martMoney Week, Nov. 4-8, 2024, is a program focused on providing education, information, tools, and training for agricultural producers in Nebraska to better manage and improve their operations. Free workshops, tools, resources, and information will be provided via in-person and online meetings.

Areas covered include topics related to finances, cost of production, risk management, land leasing and rental rates, and more.

The goal of this week will be to provide education, information, and tools for agricultural producers to help with their operations.

Family Living Expenses Series Offers Hybrid Events

Ag Smart Money Week 2024 includes a special Ag Family Living Expenses series at noon CT on Nov. 4, 6, and 8. They are designed to provide valuable insights and practical tools for farmers, ranchers, and their families to effectively manage family living finances. These hybrid events will be presented online via Zoom and offer in-person experiences at five locations across Nebraska:

• Fullerton — Nance County Events Center, 406 N Ida St. 
• Grand Island — Nebraska Building/Raising Nebraska, 501 E. Fonner Park Road, Suite 100 
• North Platte — Lincoln-Logan-McPherson County Extension Office, 348 W. State Farm Road
• Scottsbluff — Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center, 4502 Ave. I
• West Point — Cuming County Courthouse (lower-level meeting room), 200 S. Lincoln St., Room 50

In-person events are free to attend. Please register at the "in-person registration" links below. 

Schedule and Details

Monday, Nov. 4

Budgeting Family Living into Cost of Production

Nov. 4, Noon-1 p.m. CT

With Anastasia Meyer, extension educator and agricultural economist, UNL; and Glennis McClure, extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst

(Ag Family Living Expenses Series)

This presentation is designed to help farm families understand how to calculate and incorporate their living expenses into the cost of production while managing income decline. It provides actionable steps to create a realistic and sustainable budget that balances both farm operations and family needs.

Attend Via Zoom
Zoom Registration

Attend In-Person
(Fullerton, Grand Island, North Platte, Scottsbluff, or West Point)
In-Person Registration

Understanding Annual Cow Costs

Nov. 4, 7-8 p.m. CT

With Aaron Berger, livestock systems extension educator, UNL

Learn strategies to best calculate economic unit cost of production for cow-calf enterprise while understanding what the big three categories of cost are and five ways to reduce unit cost of production.

Attend Via Zoom

Zoom Registration

Tuesday, Nov. 5

Current Trends in Nebraska Land Values, Cash Rents and Lease Considerations for 2025

Nov. 5, noon-1 p.m. CT

With Jim Jansen, extension educator and agricultural economist, UNL.

Join agricultural economist Jim Jansen as he presents current trends in farmland values, cash rental rates, and lease arrangements across the state in 2025. Discussion of cash rent rates includes dryland and irrigated cropland along with grazing land rental rates for northeast Nebraska. Insight into lease arrangements outlines major pitfalls in land contracts and proper methods to overcome these challenges. The presentation highlights real estate trends and economic indicators to give attendees the insight necessary for making informed land management decisions.

Attend Via Zoom
Zoom Registration

Wednesday, Nov. 6

Savings and Investments for Farm and Ranch Wellbeing

Nov. 6, Noon-1 p.m. CT

With Shannon Sand, extension educator and agricultural economist, UNL.

(Ag Family Living Expenses Series)

Join us for a session focusing on strategies to safeguard you and your family’s farm/ranch financial well-being. We’ll cover several topics including: creating an emergency fund, planning for retirement with Social Security and tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and Roth IRAs, and achieving short-term goals such as vacations or home renovations. Learn about education savings options, like 529 plans, to prepare for your children's future. Whether you’re looking to build stability or plan for long-term goals, this webinar provides essential steps to secure your financial future.

Attend Via Zoom
Zoom Registration

Attend In-Person
(Fullerton, Grand Island, North Platte, Scottsbluff, or West Point)
In-Person Registration

2025 Cost of Production and Using the ABC Program for Your Operation

Nov. 6, 6:30-8 p.m. CT

With Glennis McClure, extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst, UNL.

This Ag $mart Money Week is designed for participants that want to know more about figuring their cost of production for 2025 enterprises. Creating budgets for our crop and livestock production is a fundamental business management practice. During this 1.5-hour program, we’ll focus on:

• A sneak peek review of the 2025 Nebraska crop budgets.
• The principles for calculating cost of production and breakeven cost.
• And an overview of how the UNL Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) can assist you in creating enterprise budgets for your operation and the features that this program provides to be used in decision making.

Attend Via Zoom
Zoom Registration

Thursday, Nov. 7

Smart Savings for Thanksgiving: Managing Rising Food Prices Amid Inflation

Nov. 7, Noon-1 p.m. CT

With Elliott Dennis, associate professor, agricultural economics, UNL.

Inflation has caused food prices to rise due to factors like increased feed costs and supply chain disruptions, which could make this Thanksgiving more expensive for many households. In this webinar, we'll describe how inflation is calculated, break down the key drivers behind these price hikes, and offer practical tips for budgeting this holiday season. Whether you're a home cook or a business owner, you'll learn how to stretch your dollar while maintaining your favorite traditions.

Attend Via Zoom
Zoom Registration

Friday, Oct. 8

Navigating Debt: Strategies for Farms and Ranches

Nov. 8, Noon-1 p.m. CT

With Jessica Groskopf, extension educator and agricultural economist, UNL.

(Ag Family Living Expenses Series)

Join us for an insightful webinar designed specifically for farmers and ranchers looking to better understand and manage debt in their operations. In today’s agricultural landscape, debt can be both a tool for growth and a source of stress. This presentation will cover essential concepts and strategies to help you make informed decisions about personal and business debt.

Attend Via Zoom
Zoom Registration

Attend In-Person
(Fullerton, Grand Island, North Platte, Scottsbluff, or West Point)
In-Person Registration

Ag $mart Money Week is produced with support from the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Asisstance Center. The North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center and Ag $mart Money Week are funded by USDA NIFA-2024-70028-43552.