Nebraska Farmers Could See Record Profits This Year

May 05, 2026

By Matt Olberding

Nebraska’s farm income is forecast to hit nearly $10 billion this year, despite potential higher costs for inputs such as diesel fuel and fertilizer.

But the news is not as good as it sounds because the increase will once again be driven by an increase in government payments.

According to the latest projections from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Missouri, the state’s net farm income should jump 12% in 2026, to an all-time high of $9.96 billion. That would shatter the previous record of $9.3 billion in 2023.

A big driver of the increase will again be government payments, which are projected to jump 71% from last year to almost $3 billion. The report said most of that will come in the form of commodity program payments under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to compensate farmers for losses due to tariffs.

But Nebraska agricultural producers also will benefit from strong prices, the report says.

Total livestock receipts in Nebraska are projected to increase by $708 million, or 3%, to $23.55 billion in 2026. Cattle receipts, which account for 91% of Nebraska livestock receipts, are projected to increase by $1.09 billion, or 5%, to $21.52 billion, due to continued high cattle prices driven by tight supplies and stable marketings of heavier cattle, according to the report.

Crop prices, which have been depressed for three years, are forecast to rebound this year, leading to an increase in receipts for both corn and soybeans.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.