Nebraska Land Values Record High in 2007

Nebraska’s farm real estate value rose sharply during 2007, extending a trend that began in 1993, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Nebraska field office in Lincoln. Farm real estate value on Jan. 1, 2008, averaged $1,460 per acre, a record high. This is up $230 per acre, or 19%, higher than last year’s level.

Pastureland, at $530 per acre, was 23% above a year ago. Cash rents paid to landlords for cropland increased from last year and were also a new record high. Irrigated cropland rent averaged $155 per acre, an increase of $16. Dryland rent increased to $95 per acre, also up $16 from the year earlier.

Nebraska Manufacturing Innovation Award Presented to Reinke

Reinke Manufacturing Co. has been named the recipient of the 2008 Nebraska Innovation in Manufacturing Award. The Deshler, Neb.-based company was honored at the May 14 annual meeting of the State Chamber’s Manufacturers Council. Presented by the State Chamber of Commerce and RSM McGladrey — a leading provider of accounting, tax and business consulting services — the Innovation in Manufacturing Award recognizes Nebraska manufacturers that successfully demonstrate new ways of conducting business via products, processes, technologies and strategies.

Reinke Manufacturing employs approximately 400 employees in a rural community of less than 900. It is one of the world’s oldest and largest manufacturers of mechanized irrigation systems, as well as flatbed and drop deck trailers and inter-modal tank and container chassis. Reinke received the Innovation Award for its workforce training and retention efforts, as the company has teamed with local schools and community colleges to create new career opportunities for students and adults who want to remain and work in the Thayer County area.

Last year, the Deshler Board of Education agreed to partner with Reinke in the implementation of a contemporary welding technology curriculum for high school students and interested adults. Renovations were made to the school’s industrial arts building. The new program and facility upgrade has encouraged around 20 students to enroll in the school’s welding class next fall — a large number for a Class C school. A similar partnership has been forged between Reinke and Belleville, Kan. Public Schools, where more than 30 students have enrolled in the welding program. Students and adults who successfully complete the welding course qualify for credits at Southeast Community College in Milford, Neb. and Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan.

Accepting the Innovation Award on behalf of Reinke was company president Chris C. Roth, who called the partnership with Deshler and Belleville Schools a “win-win-win” situation for Reinke, the local schools and the community. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. manufacturers will need as many as 14 million new skilled workers by 2020, in part to replace the baby boomers who comprise nearly half of manufacturing jobs today. The U.S. Labor Department predicts a significant increase in welding technology jobs over the next few years, while the American Welding Society estimates the current workforce of skilled welders could fall by 70% in ten years.

Imperial, Neb. Senator: Override on fuel tax doubtful

There may not be enough votes to override Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto of an increased gas tax that lawmakers approved in the state budget, said Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial. Christensen said he voted for the increase, that would raise fuel prices about a penny per gallon, because he believed in a self-funding system — where those who use the roads pay for the costs — and that the increase would help fund roads in western Nebraska.

“If we don’t use the tax increase, western Nebraska will have decreasing road quality,” he said at the McCook Chamber of Commerce Legislative Conference call this week. A self-funding system would be preferable than using cash reserves this year, he said, because it could be a tough financial year next year. Cuts might need to be made in the budgets of the University of Nebraska and the K-12 school system, he said.

“If there’s a shortfall in the budget, the schools are hit,” he said. Another bill proposed by Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine would change the way fuel taxes are levied and collected and would add another 3.3 cents per gallon. Christensen said he opposed tax increases in general but stood by his assertion that this increase would benefit his district in the long run. Still, he welcomed opinions from his district concerning the fuel taxes.

Northeast Neb. communities use institute to develop new leaders

For the 17 graduates of this year’s Holt County HomeTown Leadership Institute, newly learned leadership skills soon will be put into practice within each participant’s community. Nicole Sedlacek, Holt County economic development director, said the program serves as a way to recruit and nurture an increasing number of new leaders.

The institute started in 2004 when the Atkinson and Stuart communities embarked on the HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) strategy. The program expanded to a countywide class and has been offered annually since then. The HTC plan encourages communities to focus on leadership, youth, entrepreneurship and charitable assets.

Nebraska’s start-up potential praised

Nebraskans can be proud of the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in the state, but there is still room for improvement, according to a book by two economics professors at UNL. Eric C. Thompson and William B. Walstad were commissioned by Gallup to compare the state of entrepreneurship in Nebraska with that of the rest of the country.

There has been significant growth in entrepreneurship across the state, but Nebraska is “in the middle of the pack” compared with the rest of the nation, Thompson said. According to the professors’ book, “Entrepreneurship in Nebraska: Conditions, Attitudes, and Actions,” 43% of Nebraskans questioned by Gallup were interested in starting a business or already owned a business. Increased support and education would increase the number who actually did, Walstad said, especially in out-state Nebraska, where there are opportunities for small-business succession.

Many small businesses are liquidated when the owner retires instead of passing the business on to someone who will continue to operate it, he said. “We need to attract younger people to these businesses, no matter what kind of business it is,” Walstad said. Financing, health care costs and government regulations were viewed as obstacles to starting a business.

Insurance regulation measure approved by Nebraska senators

(Unicameral Update Online) — On a 47-0 vote, state senators gave final approval last Thursday to LB855, which houses several bills advanced from the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee. The bill updates and conforms Nebraska’s group life insurance statutes to the terms of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners model. The proposal also contains provisions from the following bills.

• LB853, which updates and clarifies several insurance statutes. The bill authorizes the director of the state Department of Insurance to develop regulations to protect members of the U.S. Armed Forces from dishonest and predatory sales practices. The bill also authorizes the director to develop regulations allowing insurers to submit to the department’s jurisdiction for the purpose of financial conglomerate supervision.

• LB854, which amends laws regarding insurance fraud.

• LB779, which streamlines and clarifies compliance requirements for the Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Act.

At least four from Ag Committee like Grand Island as fair site

At least four of the eight members of the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee regard Grand Island as the best site for the Nebraska State Fair if it moves from Lincoln’s State Fair Park. Sens. Vickie McDonald of St. Paul, Russ Karpisek of Wilber and Annette Dubas of Fullerton favor Grand Island.

Even Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, who has never made any secret of his indifference to the fair, said “if it is to have any relevance, it should be somewhere other than where it is now.” Committee Chairman Phil Erdman of Bayard, still working Wednesday to broker a deal that could convert the fairgrounds to a research campus, was not willing to state a preference for a new location.

Only one senator, Norm Wallman of Cortland, wants to move the fair to near the Lancaster Event Center in northeast Lincoln. Sen. Don Preister of Omaha wants to keep the event in Lincoln, although, he said, “I can live with Grand Island.” The eighth member, M.L. “Cap” Dierks of Ewing, is mostly worried about keeping the cost of any move in check. Erdman has not yet scheduled the executive session needed to advance a bill to the floor.

The committee’s current priority bill would require the university to offer $30 million in compensation for taking over State Fair Park, or its appraised value, whichever is higher. Various amendments are also possible, including an alternative advanced earlier by Sen. Ron Raikes of Lincoln that would remove the fair by 2012 and sort out its destination and any financial implications later.

Nebraska’s workforce recruiting challenge to be addressed in North Platte

Not too long ago, St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island was sending patients other hospitals because of staffing shortages. Now the facility averages 30 applicants per job opening. In 2000, St. Francis’ human resource department began a number of new programs to improve recruitment and job retention in all departments.

Lee Elliott, vice president of human resources and fund development at St. Francis will be in North Platte on Friday, March 14, to talk about St. Francis’ success. Recruitment of new employees is a challenge in North Platte, and it’s not just in health care, said Karin Lange, regional manager. “Our employment rate is low,” Lange said. “Actually, lack of workers is a statewide issue.”

St. Francis has received national recognition for its innovative approach to employee recruitment and retention. Innovative employers are beginning to target out-of-state workers, especially in areas where unemployment is high, Lange said. “Nebraska does have a huge image problem when you are talking about getting people to move here,” Lange said. Elliott will give his presentation at the 10 a.m. session. The afternoon session is a chance for participants to work on actual recruitment plans that can be taken back to their businesses.

The seminar is sponsored by Nebraska Workforce Development, Great Plains Human Resource Management Association, the North Platte Area Chamber and Mid-Plains Community College. It is open to the public. Call Lange at 308-535-8023.

Neb. Community Improvement Program Calls for Entries

For 45 years, the Nebraska Community Improvement Program (NCIP) has recognized communities for outstanding community, economic and leadership development efforts. The program encourages communities to develop a community planning process then work to implement a plan with a strong reliance on community volunteers. NCIP, a program of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, will be hosting several workshops to highlight program changes and assist new NCIP communities with the entry process. Workshop dates and locations are as follows:

• Tuesday, April 8, 4-6 p.m. in Loup City, Chamber of Commerce Office.
• Monday, April 14, 6:30-8:30p.m. (MST)in Alliance, Library Learning Center.
• Tuesday, April 15, 2-4 p.m. in Eustis, Senior Center.
• Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m.-noon in Nebraska City, American National Bank.
• Tuesday, April 29, 3-5 p.m. in Bassett, RC&D Building.
• Wednesday, May 7, 6-8 p.m. in Laurel, Community Learning Center.

Communities wanting to participate should submit the Intent to Enter, Community Goals sheet, and Government Resolution by March 31. These documents can be found in the NCIP Awards Guide, which can be downloaded at www.neded.org. To register for the training workshops or for more information, contact Lindsay Papenhausen at 800-426-6505, 402-471-6587, email: [email protected]. NCIP is sponsored by the following utilities, which provide cash awards for NCIP award recipients: Aquila, Glenwood Telephone, NorthWestern Energy, SourceGas, Northern Natural Gas, and Great Plains Communications.

High diesel fuel cost hurting central Nebraska’s trucking industry

Grand Island continues to break daily diesel fuel price records. In Grand Island, the trucking industry is a vital part of the area’s economy. Nationwide, higher diesel costs are crippling this vital transportation industry.

On Thursday, the Nebraska AAA Daily Fuel Gauge report had Grand Island’s diesel fuel prices averaging $3.67 per gallon.