Nebraska Farm Income: Record High But Uneven Ground with Brad Lubben
Net farm income in Nebraska is projected to reach a record high in 2026, near $10 billion, but that number tells two very different stories depending on what you raise. Brad Lubben, extension associate professor and agricultural policy specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins Nebraska FARMcast to discuss his latest Policy Report column for Nebraska Farmer, which breaks down what's driving the headline figure, why crop and livestock sectors are performing so differently right now, and how a surge in government payments is shaping the bottom line.
Lubben also walks through what the statewide aggregate misses for individual operations, what the cash flow calendar looks like for producers waiting on ARC and PLC payments this fall, and how wildfire and drought losses since the analysis was completed could shift the picture before year's end.
Read more in Brad Lubben's Policy Report Column: Cattle, Government Payments Drive Nebraska's Record Farm Income Forecast, But Crop Margins Remain Tight
Additional resources:
Nebraska Farm Income Outlook: Spring 2026 Report
Center for Agricultural Profitability free financial analysis consulting
Rurual Response Hotline: https://farmhotline.com/ and 800-464-0258
