News

UNL to host farm bill computer workshop

The author of the Texas A&M farm bill computer program, Dr. James Richardson, will be one of the presenters at a Farm Bill Decision Aid computer workshop in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 14th.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator Randy Pryor, who is based in Saline County, is helping coordinate the workshop.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity for computer training for the farm bill,” Pryor says. “Many of the decisions are somewhat complex because we have a mix of old base acres and could reallocate to a new base acre mix—especially in southeast Nebraska, it can be complex—so we need to use computer help.”

Pryor says the day-long event will feature hands-on training for farm managers, bankers, insurance agents, farmers and landlords.

“Basically, we’re in the Step 1 process—we’re updating our counter-cyclical payment yields when we can and we’re having to make the decision to keep the old base or go with the new base,” Pryor says. “That takes a computer to help understand that, because that decision is interconnected with the Step 2 decision—and that’s ARC, PLC, or PLC plus SCO.”

The workshop will take place in the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center. For more information and to register, go to UNL Cropwatch web site.

AUDIO: Randy Pryor

Photo courtesy Nebraska Corn Board