Strong and Growing

Agriculture is Nebraska’s primary source of wealth and its dominant industry. Approximately 95 percent of its total land area is farms and ranches. Nebraska farm products contribute approximately $9.5 billion in cash receipts to the U.S. economy annually and estimates reveal one-half of Nebraska’s workforce depends on agriculture and related industries for employment. Nebraska ranks fifth among the states in agricultural exports.

Buffalo County ranked in the top eight counties in Nebraska in the production of alfalfa hay, corn and beef during the last seven years. The Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance (KAAPA) seeks to acquire opportunities that can increase member profits and net income by providing its members with opportunities to produce, or invest in, value added agriculture – while offering the public new products or benefits. Agri-tourism is a key venture the area producers are supporting to increase the area’s profitability.

Working for Nebraska’s largest agriculture industry, the Nebraska Beef Council represents the cattle producers in Nebraska to strengthen demand for beef in the global marketplace.

Sand and gravel and nonmetallic minerals are available in commercial quantities, although metallic minerals are not found in the Kearney area. Alfalfa, another product available in the community, is shipped in powder and pellet form to other areas for use in various types of commercial feed.

Nebraskans enjoy four distinct seasons-spring, summer, fall and winter. Annual mean temperatures vary from 53 degrees F to 45 degrees F. Maximum daily temperatures of more than 105 degrees F have occurred in the four summer months. Subzero temperatures occur about 15 days a year.