1. The Nebraska Economy
Chapter 6
Page 131

2. Agriculture Nebraska is known as the ”Cornhusker State”
Agriculture is the centerpiece of our economy
Ranked fourth in terms of cash receipts from AG
1995- worth 8.7 billion dollars
AG- not just crops and livestock
Also includes agribusiness- technology used in raising crops and livestock as well as the distribution and marketing of them
Why such good AG?
Abundant ground water, usually favorable climate, fertile soil
90% of land in state is devoted to ranch land

3. 134,000 farms before Dust Bowl, 1995 about 56,000 farms
Size increased to average of 841 acres
Crops
Corn- most important, known as “Nebraska’s gold”
Raised in almost every county, billion bushels produced annually
3rd leading corn producer in country
Uses
Livestock and poultry feed 1/4 exported sweeteners margarine
Oils biodegradable plastics cosmetics
Ethanol paper?
Popcorn- second nationally in popcorn production

4. Soybeans Sorghum or Milo Sugar beets
Second leading crop
Began planting in 1950’s
Adds nutrients to soil
Sorghum or Milo
Grown in southern half of state
Mostly for livestock feed
Sugar beets
Mostly grown in panhandle
6th nationally
Labor intensive
Crops- Corn, soybeans, sorghum, oats, barely, wheat, rye, sunflowers, hay/alfalfa, dry beans, potatoes, sugar beets, popcorn, apples

5. Livestock Nebraska ranks 2nd in the state
Beef cattle are largest agricultural item
Beef cattle found in almost every county
Over 5 million marketed annually
Largest ranches found mostly in southwestern, panhandle, and sand hills of Nebraska
Large number of dairy cattle as well, found mostly in eastern half of state
12 dairy plants found in Nebrasak

6. Pork Sheep Poultry Bees 4th largest in the Nation
Mostly in eastern half of state
Food, heart valves, insulin
Sheep
Million pounds of wool are produced each year
Mutton and lamb meat
Poultry
Turkey and eggs along with chicken
Eastern half
Bees
Top ten honey producer
6 to 8 million pounds each year

7. Technology More efficient equipment Computers with internet
Cell phones
GPS
Genetic engineering- has led to new and better strains of crops and livestock
Center pivot has expanded farming
Invented by Frank Zybach
Became widely available in the 1950’s
Diversification
Trying to come up with new animals and crops
Christmas trees, asparagus, llamas, ostriches

8. Manufacturing Nebraska’s second leading economic activity
Most still related to agriculture
100,000 people work in manufacturing jobs
First manufacturing job- blacksmiths, sawmills, flour mills
,144 manufacturing establishments
Food processing leading type
Four, Pasta, Cereals, Meet products
Industrial machinery ranked second
5 counties with most industrial workers
Douglas, Lancaster, Hall, Platte, and Scottsbluff
Ethanol- fuel made from sorghum, potatoes, wheat, and sugar gain
Alternative to fossil fuels

9. Tourism 3rd largest industry Top Tourist attractions Henry Doorly Zoo
Mahoney State Park
Lake McCanaughy
Robinson State Park

10. Transportation and Communication
Has evolved over time
Wagon trains to railroads to highways to airports
Interstate 80 most important
Communication
Letters/pony express to telegraph to telephones to newspapers and radio to tv to internet and satellite systems
Employment
Nebraskan workers known for being dependable
Unemployment rate in
Nation was 5.8
Most work in service industry- Health, Business, Telemarketing, govt, sales, fiance, insurance, and real estate

11. International economics
40 percent of exports go to Japan
20 percent go to Canada
60 percent are food products
Our economy is tied to other sates and other nations