2008 Woodie Awards
Nebraska beef production, tops nation, maintains strength
Andrea Vasquez
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News
The average weight of a hamburger patty is three to four ounces. Last year, Nebraska produced 7.22 billion pounds of red meat - more than any other state in the country - according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"Nebraska's always been one of the top (states)," said Dennis Burson, an animal science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "This is something that Nebraska's been good at for several years."
Besides the prestige of beating out Iowa and Kansas, Nebraska's high cattle and livestock production is a source of economic strength.
"Agriculture is the biggest section of the state's economy," said Mike Fitzgerald, the spokesman for the Nebraska Cattlemen Association. "And cattle and beef production is the largest share of that."
About one out of every five to seven jobs in Nebraska is related to cattle production, Fitzgerald said. The cattle industry provides jobs in farming and ranch production, meat processing, meat packing and other positions in companies such as Tyson Foods, Inc.
"There's a lot of things in livestock production and agriculture (that) are still very important to the state," Burson said. "Very definitely those things have a lot of economic impacts on the state of Nebraska."
Burson and Fitzgerald expect Nebraska's reign to continue and even grow.
Despite last month's cold temperatures, which made it difficult for many producers to care for newborn calves, actual calf losses were close to average.
Producers generally have measures of protecting the calves from harsh cold, said Rick Rasby, a UNL animal science professor.
Although Nebraska cattle producers have to deal with harsh weather conditions, grains and other resources may put them at an advantage over other states.
"There are some that say that the increase in ethanol production presents some opportunities to expand cattle production here because of the use of co-products of ethanol production," Fitzgerald said.
As processing and production in the state grow, some companies are merging and closing slaughter facilities in the process. Closing some of these facilities could have an economic impact, Burson said, and the merges could change the way companies operate.
But Fitzgerald said he can't imagine the companies would do anything to jeopardize the "potential to actually increase production here."
"As cattle and beef production goes in Nebraska," Fitzgerald said, "so goes Nebraska."
andreavasquez@dailynebraskan.com
"Nebraska's always been one of the top (states)," said Dennis Burson, an animal science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "This is something that Nebraska's been good at for several years."
Besides the prestige of beating out Iowa and Kansas, Nebraska's high cattle and livestock production is a source of economic strength.
"Agriculture is the biggest section of the state's economy," said Mike Fitzgerald, the spokesman for the Nebraska Cattlemen Association. "And cattle and beef production is the largest share of that."
About one out of every five to seven jobs in Nebraska is related to cattle production, Fitzgerald said. The cattle industry provides jobs in farming and ranch production, meat processing, meat packing and other positions in companies such as Tyson Foods, Inc.
"There's a lot of things in livestock production and agriculture (that) are still very important to the state," Burson said. "Very definitely those things have a lot of economic impacts on the state of Nebraska."
Burson and Fitzgerald expect Nebraska's reign to continue and even grow.
Despite last month's cold temperatures, which made it difficult for many producers to care for newborn calves, actual calf losses were close to average.
Producers generally have measures of protecting the calves from harsh cold, said Rick Rasby, a UNL animal science professor.
Although Nebraska cattle producers have to deal with harsh weather conditions, grains and other resources may put them at an advantage over other states.
"There are some that say that the increase in ethanol production presents some opportunities to expand cattle production here because of the use of co-products of ethanol production," Fitzgerald said.
As processing and production in the state grow, some companies are merging and closing slaughter facilities in the process. Closing some of these facilities could have an economic impact, Burson said, and the merges could change the way companies operate.
But Fitzgerald said he can't imagine the companies would do anything to jeopardize the "potential to actually increase production here."
"As cattle and beef production goes in Nebraska," Fitzgerald said, "so goes Nebraska."
andreavasquez@dailynebraskan.com
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