6 | Scottsbluff -Gering-Terrytown Community Directory
Over two million Panhandle acres are devoted to dryland agriculture. Given the semi-arid climate, most dryland farmers practice a two or three year crop rotation, allowing for a fallow period to conserve moisture prior to wheat planting. The predominant dryland areas are in the southern Panhandle with some acreage in the central and northern regions. Hard, red winter wheat dominates the dryland cropping system with more than 600,000 acres in production. Forty percent of Nebraska’s wheat production occurs in the Panhandle. Winter wheat adapts to varying conditions which gives it the ability to fit into a double-crop and relay-crop rotation systems. Hard red winter wheat is the mainly used for the production of loaf bread, hamburger buns and other foods. The average bushel of wheat weighs 60 pounds, can make 64 loaves of bread. As much as 50 percent of Nebraska’s wheat is exported annually to international markets. Proso Millet is produced on about 100,000 acres. Proso is well adapted to many soils and climatic conditions. It needs very little water and has a short growing season making it a perfect crop for this area. Proso is used for bird seed and export markets. It is also sold as health food and due to its lack of gluten and it can be included in the diets of people who cannot tolerate wheat. Sunflowers are produced on about 30,000 acres. There are two types of sunflowers, oil and confection. The primary use of oil type sunflowers is for edible oil, but are also be used for bird seed. The livestock industry accounts for 70% of the gross agricultural sales in the Panhandle. Over twothirds of Panhandle land is available for grazing and supports approximately 250,000 beef cows. Panhandle feedlots finish approximately 600,000 head annually. Panhandle agriculture is an important, diverse and interesting segment of our economy. The combination of crop and livestock production with extensive processing facilities provides much of the economic and employment base for the region. Efforts to diversify our economy are important. Land and people, however, will continue to be our most precious resources.
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