Studies on the Parasitic Helminths of the North Central States. II. Helminths of Voles (Microtus spp.) Preliminary Report

The helminths of North American mouse-like rodents have received little study. Previous work has been based on low numbers of animals examined, and there has been little reference to the ecology involved. The purpose of this paper is to present data resulting from the examination of over 600 voles, with special reference to host-parasite relationships

Variation of Environmental Regulation Stringency Among the Top Ten U.S. Hog Producing States

The U.S. hog industry, once primarily made up of small owner-operated crop-hog farms, has become dominated by large specialized operations characterized by low costs and improved technologies in livestock management. Such changes have triggered concerns over the dangers large Hog Feeding Operations (HFOs) are likely to pose to the environment. In 2007, the top ten states accounted for more than 85 percent of total U.S. hog production (Iowa (IA), North Carolina (NC), Minnesota (MN), Illinois (IL), Nebraska (NE), Indiana (IN), Missouri (MO), Oklahoma (OK), Ohio (OH), and Kansas (KS)). With such domination on production, these states are often the subject of environmental debate relating to hog production. When farmers are required to incorporate environmental measures in hog production, their costs of production increase. Metcalfe (2001) found that small HFOs have found it difficult to cope with such costs and many have exited the industry, while large operations have not been affected at the same level. Due to the variation of environmental regulations among states, other operations moved to states with lax regulations (e.g. NC prior to the late 1990s). Such regulations appear to have played a major role in shaping the structure of the hog industry.

The U.S. Import of Beef: Friend or Foe to Domestic Beef Production?

Controversy surrounding the United States import of beef has been an issue since at least 1958, which marked the beginning of major imports from Australia (Edward, 1964). From the onset, U.S. beef producers have been concerned that beef imports would depress the prices they receive for their product. Consumer groups, on the other hand, have welcomed increased imports, expecting that increased competition would lower meat prices. As a result of these conflicting views, the past 50 years has seen the creation of various measures of legislation which control the volume of imports.

Empathy Conditioned Conservation: “Walking-in-the-Shoes-of-Others” as a Conservation Farmer

Since the destruction and despair caused by the dust bowl of the 1930’s, Americans and their government have taken a keen interest in natural resource conservation policy on agricultural land. The Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936 was the first farm bill to include provisions that provided payments to farmers willing to employ soil conservation measures (Cain and Lovejoy, 2004). While the main purpose of this bill was to provide financial support to impoverished farmers, the fact remains that natural resource conservation was starting to become an important issue for the American public.

Two and a Half Cheers for the Midwestern Bourgeoisie: Role of the Virtues in Tempering Business Decisions

A recent book (The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce, D. N. McCloskey), raises the matter of the role of the virtues in business and economic choice, arguing that capitalism can indeed, be virtuous or at least better than the alternative(s). This argument is especially timely in light of the apparent excesses on Wall Street and in some banking/financial institutions. Excessive greed and often the lack of business ethics contributed in substantive ways to the financial crisis and near economic meltdown we have been experiencing. As McCloskey, (2006, pp. 1-2) argues (in setting the stage for the complex argument made in this 616-page book!): “The book … is directed toward you who are suspicious of the phrase ‘bourgeois virtues,’ pretty sure that it is a contradiction in terms. And the book is directed, with less optimism about changing their minds, toward you who think the phrase is worse: a lie. ‘Bourgeois virtues’ is neither. The claim here is that modern capitalism does not need to be offset to be good. Capitalism can on the contrary be virtuous. In a fallen world bourgeois life is not perfect. But it’s better than any available alternative. American capitalism needs to be inspirited, moralized, completed. Two and a half cheers for the Midwestern bourgeoisie (middle-class, small business owners…. yet)… Many a businessman is an ethical shell or worse. Even the virtues of the bourgeoisie, … do not lead straight to heaven.”

Optimism of Rural Nebraskans

Results from the 2008 Nebraska Rural Poll showed rural Nebraskans were more optimistic about their lives than they have been in previous years. More Nebraskans believed they were better off than they were five years ago, and more were optimistic about their futures. They had reason to be optimistic last year, the agricultural economy in 2007 was strong, especially for crop producers. The poll was taken between March and May, 2008, before the national economy began to falter in October. Thus the 2009 Nebraska Rural Poll will help clarify how rural Nebraskans are responding to the current economic times.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

President Obama signed the $787 billion economic stimulus package into law on February 17, 2009. What will this mean to individuals or to tax law for 2009? Withholding brackets will be adjusted so individuals should receive an extra $400 through their paychecks over the course of the year, this will encourage spending, since it will be a smaller amount returned each week. The Alternative Minimum Tax will be "patched." Some post-secondary education plans will be implemented and Hope Credits will be expanded. A first time home buyer credit that went into effect in 2007 has been changed, increasing the dollar limit and waiving the payback requirement unless the home is sold within 36 months of purchase.

Using Nebraska's Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program

Many farm or ranch families that are attempting to bring a son or daughter back into their business experience a strain on the cash flow. Recent changes to Nebraska's Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program provide an attractive incentive that can be very beneficial to those families. Regulation changes made in 2008 now allow parents to rent agricultural assets to their own children.

Nebraska Ethanol's Carbon Footprint

If burning a gallon of ethanol emits less greenhouse gas or GHGs (CO2, primarily), than the gasoline it replaces then it has a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline. Actually, it is the amount of fossil CO2 emitted that matters, because CO2 from fossil fuels represents "new" carbon in the atmosphere, whereas the CO2 released by corn ethanol is recycled atmospheric carbon.

RP94-217 No. 18 Use of Crop Futures and Options by the Nontrader

Crop producers make a number of decisions that are market related. They may be categorized as financial decisions, production decisions, or marketing decisions. All three decisions depend on what prices are likely to be at some specific time in the future. The marketing decisions is complex. This research publication discusses the number of alternatives that are available even for the producer who does not directly buy or sell futures or options contracts.

RP92-217 No. 19 Cost of Grain Storage

Grain marketing decisions are among the toughest the farm owner/operator or manager must make. Grain producers store grain to speculate on receiving higher prices, earn a return above storage costs, or to take advantage of government programs. Prices must increase enough to cover the additional costs, or forward contract prices must exceed current prices by more than the cost of storage in order to justify forward pricing. The gain in prices received can come from both changes in price level and changes in basis. This research publication discusses all the areas of the cost of grain storage.

G82-621 Sources of Livestock and Poultry Market Information (Revised July 1994)

This NebGuide provides a list of various market information sources, each followed by a brief summary of issue schedules and contents. It provides a listing of widely used and readily available market information sources that contain information which may be useful to agricultural producers, lenders and agribusiness firms when making livestock and poultry marketing decisions. Most of the available market information and statistical data comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Many now require an annual subscription fee.

Parasites and Diseases of Mullets (Mugilidae)

The following treatment of parasites, diseases and conditions affecting mullet hopefully serves several functions. It acquaints someone involved in rearing mullets with problems he can face and topics he should investigate. We cannot go into extensive illustrative detail on every species or group, but do provide a listing of most parasites reported or known from mullet and some pertinent general information on them. Because of these enumerations, the paper should also act as a review for anyone interested in mullet parasites or the use of such parasites as indicators about a mullet's diet and migratory behavior. Unfortunately, limited space prohibits us from presenting all the references used. The paper also deals with the public health aspects of eating or selling mullet, whether the product is to be raw, cooked, salted or smoked.