Jessica Groskopf - Extension Educator for Agricultural Economics

Jessica Groskopf

faculty, volunteer
Work
4502 Ave I Scottsbluff NE 69361-4939
US

icon-academic-capEducation

  • BS, Colorado State University, 2010
  • MS, Kansas State University, 2011

Faculty Bio

Excavation continues above the tunnel collapse. A series of three trench boxes, each 10 feet tall by 20 feet wide by 20 feet long will be dropped down into the space as soil is removed. (Photo courtesy the Goshen Irrigation District)
Figure 1. Excavation continues above the tunnel collapse and on Friday a series of three trench boxes, each 10 feet tall by 20 feet wide by 20 feet long, were droppped down on top of the tunnel to create a safe place for working. (Photo courtesy the Goshen Irrigation District)

Update on Canal Repairs Affecting Growers in Nebraska and Wyoming

August 23, 2019
Work continues to excavate soil above the irrigation tunnel collapse just south of Fort Laramie. A series of trench boxes is being installed to facilitate safe conditions for continued digging. Prospects remain uncertain for restoring water this irrigation season.

Read more

Bird's eye view of repair work underway on the canal and tunnel area
Figure 1. A bird's eye view of the land work to repair the irrigation canal and excavate the collapsed area above the tunnel. (Photos by Rick Preston)

Update: Tunnel Repair Continues 'Round the Clock'

August 16, 2019
Repairs to the Gering-Fort Laramie-Goshen irrigation canal and tunnel are progressing, although it’s still too early to determine when water flow will be restored, growers were told Monday at stakeholder meetings in Nebraska and Wyoming. A photo series helps tell the story of progress.

Read more

Efforts are ongoing to repair the tunnel section of the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation canal that collapsed July 17. This photo was taken August 8.
Figure 1. Efforts are ongoing to repair the tunnel section of the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation canal that collapsed July 17. This photo was taken August 8. (Photos by Gary Stone)

Potential Economic Impact of Tunnel Collapse is $89 Million

August 15, 2019
The economic impact of the July 17 tunnel collapse on the Gering-Fort Laramie Canal could climb as high as $89 million if the loss of irrigation water results in a total crop failure, according to a new report issued by University of Wyoming Extension and Nebraska Extension.

Read more

Crop field and farm

Terminating a Verbal Farm Land Lease

August 14, 2019
The deadline for formal notification to terminate a verbal or handshake year-to-year land lease agreement is September 1. Here are some things to consider when terminating various types of land leases.

Read more

Crop Insurance Question for Those Affected by Canal/Tunnel Collapse

August 9, 2019
As repairs continue on the collapsed tunnel in the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Canal, unanswered questions remain about whether crop insurance will cover crop losses. Until that's determined, farmers in the affected area need to manage their crop as if water will return to the canal.

Read more

Chart indicating market volatility

Price Volatility Brings Marketing Opportunities, With Risks

August 1, 2019
Uncertainty about national grain production as well as local yields has put farmers in a tough place. Should they sell growing crop now, or wait? This articles looks at two examples as well as what to consider with a hedging strategy.

Read more

An aerial view of the sink holes created by the July 17 tunnel collapse on the Gering-Fort Laramie/Goshen Irrigation District canal.
Figure 1. An aerial view of the sink holes created by the July 17 tunnel collapse on the Gering-Fort Laramie/Goshen Irrigation District canal. The larger sink hole is approximately 100 feet across and 50 feet deep. (Photo by Justin Burkart, Goshen Emergency Management Association)

Update on Efforts to Restore Water to North Platte River Valley Canal

July 26, 2019
The Gering/Ft. Laramie Irrigation District and the Goshen Irrigation District (Wyoming) held stakeholder meetings this week to discuss the status of canal damage and repairs and how to restore irrigation water to 100,000+ acres. Initial canal repairs have started, with tunnel repairs expected to start soon.

Read more

Area of the North Platte River canal where the break occurred July 17.
Figure 1. Area where the North Platte River Canal breached July 17, flooding nearby fields. Water flow to the canal was stopped and won't be continued until repairs can be made, possibly cutting short the crop season. (Photo courtesy of Chabella Guzman of KNEB Radio)

Growers in North Platte Valley Face Critical Water Loss with Canal Damage

July 18, 2019
Surface-water irrigators in the North Platte River Valley south of the river in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming have lost their water supply due to a washout in the main supply canal early Wednesday morning (July 17). The Bureau of Reclamation is assessing the damage.

Read more