This week on Market Journal...

    Optimism in the Hog Markets -- Ron Plain, University of Missouri Extension ag economists, looks for a stronger hog market in 2010. Plain believes the recent upswing and then dip in the market was mostly related to the winter storms.
    Feed beef cows well – Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension beef specialist, says producers should have forages being fed to cows this winter tested for moisture, protein and energy. Rasby says, to feed first calf heifers separate from mature cows to make sure they receive the proper nutrition to get then through calving and into their second breeding season.
    Leasing land for wind farm development – Randy Pryor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator, Saline County, and Darrel Hayek, vice chairman, Saline County Wind Association, encourages farmers to consider forming a producers’ organization to help with the legal issues involved with wind farms. One of those issues is what Hayek calls the favored nation concept to insure all in the area receive the same compensation.
    The Cornhusker Economics Outlook Conference – Brad Lubben, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension public policy specialist, says the conferences will look at the performance so far of the ACRE program and consideration for farm program participation in 2010. More information is available at www.agecon.unl.edu.
    Some snow, but mostly cold – Al Dutcher, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension state climatologist, says the western portion of Nebraska could see snow this next week. For the rest of the state temperatures will be between single digits and the 20’s for most of the week.
 

Next week, in our marketing segment, Mike Briggs, Seward, Nebraska feedlot operator, will give us his analysis of the cattle market. In our risk management feature Dennis Conley, University of Nebraska-Lincoln ag economist will discuss an interesting study on the production and use of ethanol by-product feeds.