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Capital, land obstacles for young Nebraska farmer

A young producer says increasing efficiency on his operation is helping him overcome barriers that many beginning farmers face.

Northeast Nebraska farmer Adam Venteicher says access to land and working capital is the biggest obstacle. “Many of our landlords are getting older, and I see this land possibly coming up for sale in the near future. We don’t have the access to capital to purchase tracts of land.”

He tells Brownfield if he can’t expand his operation, then he finds ways to be more productive. “More production per acre for a lower cost whether it’s increase rate of gains on cattle.  We try to be the most efficient farmers as possible. We want to use less water.  We want to use less nitrogen to produce the same crop as we do or better.”

For example, Venteicher says he uses water moisture probes and soil tests to apply the precise amount of water and nitrogen.