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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #36 OMAHA, NE
March 20, 2014 Volume 18 Issue 6
$77.1 Million Plus Spent on Three-state Platte River Recovery Implementation Program
Check out our Agstuff Classifieds Pages 20-23
FFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9, 16-18 College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Weather ..............................2
Country Living House Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Quilt Pattern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Lighter Side Lee Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Markets Grains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Government Report Government Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ag Management Farm Machinery on Road Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility . . . . . . . .18
Livestock News Heartland Cattleman . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Production News USDA Enhances Farm Storage Facility Loan Program . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Schedule of Events Omaha World-Herald
Lori Potter, The Kearney Hub More than $77.1 million had been spent through 2013 on the three-state Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. That's about 40 percent of the total cash contributions expected for the first increment – 2007 through 2019 – for the program, which passed the halfway point of the 13-year period in mid 2013. In a budget update at the PRRIP Governance Committee meeting Tuesday in Kearney, Executive Director Jerry Kenny said more than $23.3 million was spent in 2013, which was less than the $27.2 million budget. "It was a record-setting year in terms of expenditures. The key was a $14 million-plus payment toward the J-2 reservoirs," Kenny said, referring to a project to build two water retiming reservoirs in northwest Phelps and northeast Gosper counties. That project will be constructed and owned by Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, with the program and several state For daily agriculture news, updates and local happenings, visit the Heartland Express website at www.myfarmandranch.com
entities, Department of Natural Resources and several natural resources districts, getting credits for streamflow enhancements. It is estimated to cost $75 million, with CNPPID contributing 5 percent. The program will pay 75 percent of the balance and state entities will pay 25 percent. CNPPID General Manager Don Kraus, Natural Resources Manager Mike Drain and civil engineer Cory Steinke of Holdrege gave a J-2 project update later in Tuesday's meeting, and distributed a brochure that describes it. Drain said the goal is to start construction in 2017. The 2014 PRRIP budget is for more than $25.2 million, including another $14 million for the J-2 project, Kenny said. Most of the cash contributions for the PRRIP are federal dollars, although Colorado and Wyoming have some obligations. Nebraska's commitment is in-kind projects and services. Although last fall's government shutdown forced program officials to spend state funds only for awhile — now only federal funds are being
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spent to restore the balance — Kenny told the Hub he's still optimistic about getting the future federal dollars needed. That's because the program has had bipartisan support from the congressional delegations of all three states, and from the Bush and Obama administrations. Kenny said the first-increment cost estimate was $187 million 2005. Brock Merrill of the federal Bureau of Reclamation reported Tuesday on the annual indexing update done each Oct. 1 to adjust costs to inflation. He said the new cash total is $204 million. The Department of Interior's share is $171 million. Meeting land goals The growth in annual expenditures the past two years and into 2014 reflects a "maturing of the program," Kenny told the Hub. That's reflected in the progress made toward program goals to restore Central Platte Basin land habitat in Nebraska and river flows vital to Continued on page 12
MARKET GLANCE Livestock and Products, Weekly Average
Crops, Daily Spot Prices Year Ago 4 Wks Ago 3/7/14
Nebraska Slaughter Steer 35-65% Choice, Live Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$128.00 Nebraska Feeder Steers, Med. & Large Frame, 550-600# . . . . . . . . . . . .162.57 Med & Large Frame, 750-800 # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142.09 Choice Boxed Beef, 600-750# Carcass . . . . . . . . . .195.02 Western Corn Belt Base Hog Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71.95 Feeder Pigs, National Direct, 50#, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . .* Pork Carcass Cutout, 185#, 51-52% Lean . . . . . . . .79.04 Slaughter Lambs, Ch. & Pr.,Heavy, SD Dir. . . . . . . . .105.00 Nat. Carcass Lamb Cutout, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .289.23
140.48
149.52
209.49 169.22 216.30 82.97 * 90.15 160.25 369.43
221.09 177.70 233.40 105.44 * 108.08 158.00 369.88
Wheat, No. 1, H.W. Imperial, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.87 Corn, No. 2, Yellow, Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.39 Soybeans, No. 1 Yellow Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.96 Grain Sorg. No. 2 Yellow, Dorchester, cwt . . . . . . . . .12.25 Oats, No. 2, Heavy Minneapolis, MN, bu. . . . . . . . . . .4.28
6.19 4.27 13.08 7.48 4.30
6.83 4.56 14.22 8.07 4.61
* 130.00 107.50 185.00 61.00
162.50 127.50 107.50 235.00 67.00
Hay (per ton) Alfalfa, Lrg. Sq. Bales Good to Prem., NE Neb. . . . . . . .* Alfalfa, Lrg. Rounds, Good, Platte Valley, . . . . . . . . .227.50 Grass Hay, Lrg. Rounds, Premium, Neb., . . . . . . . . .212.50 Dried Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268.00 Wet Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103.50 * No market.