POSTAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #218 Kearney, NE 68848
July 9, 2009 Issue 219-13-14
Farming the Nebraska way ... in Afghanistan By Matthew Hansen Omaha World-Herald
strands of wire on them and built The man they call A.K. was the himself a uniquely Afghan first Afghan farmer to try things grapevine on his land north of Kabul. the Cornhusker way. He researched irrigation and A.K. watched closely as the started watering his fields as the Nebraska National Guard memNebraskans had recommended, bers — many of them Nebraska farm boys — demonstrated how conserving rivers of water for his to grow grapes above ground drought-stricken country in the process. instead of down in the dirt. A.K.'s neighbors noticed. Soon He listened intently as the members of the Nebraska agri- they started chatting up the Col. Mike Johnson cultural development team Nebraska Guard team, 53 people explained the value of drip irriga- assigned to the tall yearlong task Commander Ag tion — why it would work better of improving agriculture in and Development Team than flooding his crops with around the decimated Panjshir Valley. water. "The thing about an Afghan We'd also like to learn farming So A.K. banged some concrete farmer is, if they see something posts into the ground, strung two the Nebraska way, they said. working across the road, they want it themselves, too," said Col. Mike Johnson, commander of the ag development team, by phone from Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base. "The bottom line is that they are interested in anything that provides more food for their family," Johnson said. The Nebraska team's task is that simple: Help Afghan farmers put food on their tables in an area once known for its beautiful orchards. But the task, as with nearly everything in Afghanistan, is fraught with difficulty. The Panjshir Valley has endured nearly three decades of nonstop war. The Soviets, Afghan warlords and the Taliban have bombed, burned and chopped down every fruit tree. You think farming in Nebraska is tough? Try plowing behind a For the past six months a Nebraska National Guard team has taught team of starving oxen and plantAfghan farmers how to irrigate, rotate crops and grow better corn and ing by throwing seed haphazardwheat. The Nebraskans have also surely run headfirst into Afghanistan's ly onto the dry, cracked ground. worsening reality: Increased danger, unreliable electricity, farmers who
"The bottom line is that they are interested in anything that provides more food for their family''
don't know how to read or write, the ever-present fear of the Taliban and other militant groups.
Weather hard on state during June By Robert Pore Grand Island Indepenent
Gov. Dave Heineman is seeking a federal disaster declaration for 13 Nebraska counties, including Hamilton and Custer counties, due to storm and tornado damage during June. Damage assessments from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency indicate at least $4 million in damages, primarily to roads and other public infrastructure. Assessments were conducted in recent weeks with a team of state and federal officials. The 13 counties included are Arthur, Box Butte, Cherry, Garden, Morrill, and Scotts Bluff counties in the west; Custer, Keya Paha, Hamilton, and Rock counties in the central region; and Dixon, Pawnee and Richardson counties in the east. According to Heineman, tornadoes, high winds, hail and above average rainfall were seen in many areas of the state throughout the month. Several roads and highways were closed at various points due to flash flooding that damaged roads and were later washed out by additional storms moving through the area. The request for federal aid includes funding for repairs to roads, bridges, public power infrastructure and other public buildings, as well as debris removal. Also, flooding, hail, strong winds and excessive heat and humidity caused extenContinued on page 15
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MARKET GLANCE Livestock and Products, Weekly Average Year Ago 4 Wks Ago Nebraska Slaughter Steer 35-65% Choice, Live Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$98.00 84.45 Nebraska Feeder Steers, Med. & Large Frame, 550-600# . . . . . . . . . . . .127.05 117.45 Med & Large Frame, 750-800 # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117.10 102.86 Choice Boxed Beef, 600-750# Carcass . . . . . . . . . .164.25 145.60 Western Corn Belt Base Hog Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72.78 59.22 Feeder Pigs, National Direct, 50#, FOB . . . . . . . . . .33.25 * Pork Carcass Cutout, 185#, 51-52% Lean . . . . . . . .79.77 59.18 Slaughter Lambs, Ch. & Pr.,Heavy, SD Dir. . . . . . . . .115.50 * Nat. Carcass Lamb Cutout, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .271.49 253.15
6/26/09
80.92 117.00 101.60 137.71 57.28 35.27 54.85 106.00 261.28
Crops, Daily Spot Prices Wheat, No. 1, H.W. Imperial, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.45 Corn, No. 2, Yellow, Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.17 Soybeans, No. 1 Yellow Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15.08 Grain Sorg. No. 2 Yellow, Dorchester, cwt . . . . . . . . .12.13 Oats, No. 2, Heavy Minneapolis, MN, bu. . . . . . . . . . .4.29
6.46 4.26 12.25 6.86 2.59
5.10 3.62 11.76 5.86 2.12
* * *
* * *
Hay (per ton) Alfalfa, Lrg. Sq. Bales Good to Prem., NE Neb. . . . . .190.00 Alfalfa, Lrg. Rounds, Good, Platte Valley, . . . . . . . . .77.50 Grass Hay, Lrg. Rounds, Premium, Neb., . . . . . . . . .85.00 * No market.
Look inside this issue for these headlines...
Quilt Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4 Rodeos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18-20 County Fairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-17, 21 • Country Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 5 • Lee Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 • Washington Report . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
• Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 and 23 • Heartland Cattleman . . . . . . . . . .22 • Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-31
For daily agriculture news, updates and local happenings, visit the Heartland Express website at www.myfarmandranch.com