August 8, 2008

Farm and ranch production expenditures for Nebraska totaled $14.6 billion in 2007, up 14% from a year earlier. Livestock expenses, the largest expenditure category, at $4.17 billion, increased 10% from 2006. Feed, the next largest total expense category at $1.78 billion, increased 22% from 2006. The category showing the largest percentage increase over the previous year was trucks and autos at 47%.

Livestock expenses accounted for 29% of Nebraska's total production expenditures. Feed accounted for 12%, rent 10%, and farm services 9%.

The total expenditures per farm or ranch in Nebraska averaged $309,091 in 2007, up from $269,538, an increase of 15%. The livestock expense category was the leading expenditure, at $88,161 per operation, almost seven times the national average. The average feed expenditure, at $37,632 per operation, was more than twice the national average. Rent and farm services, at $29,810 and $27,273, respectively, were both above the national averages.

These results are based on data from Nebraska farmers and ranchers who participated in the Agricultural Resource Management Study conducted by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Producers were contacted in February through April to collect 2007 farm and ranch expenses. This is the fourth year of state level information published for Nebraska from the Agricultural Resource Management Study.

Nebraska Field Office
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service