Nebraska Livestock Associations

In Nebraska, livestock is king when it comes to the agricultural sector, which operates on almost 45 million acres of land. Cattle dominate, as headcounts reveal a population of over 6.8 million cattle totaling over 3.5 times the human population. With breeds like Angus and its derivatives Brangus and SimAngus, it’s no wonder that Nebraska is known as the Beef State.

Many farmers face the same challenges regardless of livestock focus. Concerns about productivity, legislative changes, tax issues, and operations, often make the top of the list. While advisors like Adams Brown, Strategic Allies, and CPAs, can help navigate tax, accounting, and other financial challenges, it is important to be aware of the various industry associations and groups that provide other essential types of support.

Nebraska Livestock Associations

Below is a list of some of the most noteworthy associations:

• Nebraska Cattlemen focuses on providing both practical support and resources while representing members’ interests at the local, state, and federal levels. There are several membership options including student, associate, and supporting memberships. A variety of educational resources are available to members including the popular Expert Webinar Series. In addition, there are in-person events hosted each year including the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear and the annual conference.
• Nebraska Charolais Association is focused on cattle promotion, breed improvement, and ongoing member education. Exclusively focused on the French Charolais cattle, there are several important programs offered including the Performance Plus Registry and Charolais Advantage (tagging program). There is also a robust junior’s program which includes both a National Junior Beef Expo and Charolais Show.
• Nebraska Pork Producers Association strives to ensure opportunities for success for the state’s pork producers regardless of size and production. There are several educational programs including the Pork Producer Webinar Series, economic and market summaries, and details on carcass prices. There is also an abundance of information available on current legislative policies and updates. Finally, many youth programs are offered including the Ag Sack Lunch Program, Pork Leadership Program, and the Youth in Agriculture Scholarship.
• Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers Association supports, promotes, and protects the state’s sheep and goat producers. There are several programs designed to help producers manage the herd including Scrapie’s information and sheep and goat identification resources. There are also webinars available covering topics such as intensive sheep farming, solar grazing, and pasture management. Finally, two youth programs are designed to provide real-world education including the Youth Market Lamb and Selection of Market Lamb projects.