Wildfire and rising costs hit Nebraska rancher

In April, a wildfire destroyed one thousand six hundred grazing acres and thirteen miles of fence on Yvette Mannon's Nebraska ranch.

Diesel costs spike due to Iran War

Diesel prices spiked due to the Iran War, up more than forty percent from the previous year. Mannon needed a tractor delivering hay to her cattle daily, adding to her mounting expenses.

Trump administration imports foreign beef

In August, the Trump administration announced it would import three hundred thousand metric tons of duty-free foreign beef to lower consumer prices.

Cattle market collapses immediately

The cattle market tanked immediately after the foreign beef import announcement. Mannon, who voted for Trump, said the news felt like a betrayal of her support.

“It just felt like a betrayal.”

Mannon questions Trump's America First message

Mannon, sixty-three, who voted for Trump, questioned the contradiction between his America First messaging and policies harming American ranchers. She said the administration's actions contradicted its stated values.

“So we're 'Buy American', 'Let's Make America Great,' but for you guys over here, sorry.”

Multiple pressures squeeze Nebraska farmers

The Iran War sent diesel and fertiliser prices skyrocketing. Tariffs affected machinery costs, repairs, steel and lumber prices. Trump administration decisions on foreign beef and Mexican cattle sent volatile markets into overdrive.

Cattle markets in downswing cycle

James Mitchell, an assistant professor and agricultural economist at the University of Arkansas, said cattle markets run in ten to twelve year cycles.

Jake Wolfinger's feedlot faces price collapse

Jake Wolfinger, forty-five, runs a feedlot near Lexington, Nebraska with five thousand five hundred cattle.

Wolfinger frustrated with Trump's market intervention

Wolfinger, a Trump supporter, said he voted for the president because we needed his spirit in this country. But he is unhappy with the way the president has intervened in the beef market.

“People need to stay the hell out of farmers' business, because it's harvest time.”

Duane Kimball struggles with daily upcharges

Duane Kimball, fifty-four, near Callaway, Nebraska, said the daily upcharge is kind of painful. He knows a lot of people have had to go back to their banks and increase their lines of credit.

“I know a lot of people have had to go back to their banks and increase their lines of credit.”

Jim Jenkins writes against harmful policies

Jim Jenkins, sixty-nine, a former independent senatorial candidate, was so incensed by policies harming Nebraska agriculture that he wrote an opinion article over the summer in an Omaha paper.

Jenkins calls Trump unpractical

Jenkins, an outspoken Trump critic who did not vote for the president during any of his White House bids, said he hoped Trump would turn out to be a practical business guy.

“I think he's been anything but practical.”

Don Batie abandons farm succession plan

Don Batie, sixty-seven, retired from farming last year.Corn and soybean prices fell from seven dollars a bushel in early two thousand twenty-two to four dollars twenty-nine three years later.

“It just wasn't going to work now.”

Batie switched from Trump in two thousand twenty-four

Batie voted for Trump in two thousand sixteen and again in the primary but not in two thousand twenty-four because he was disappointed with his policies.He said he had heard similar dissatisfaction throughout the state.

“They're still strong Republicans. But they're not a Trump supporter anymore.”

Ranchers continue despite political uncertainty

On a rainy Thursday in Broken Bow, buyers gathered for the regular indoor cattle auction. Calves still need to be bought and sold, and ranch operations, many multi-generational, do not pause for politics.

Mannon reflects on agricultural resilience

Yvette Mannon summed up Nebraskans' resilience and fortitude, saying people in agriculture are eternal optimists. Otherwise they would not get in it, she said.

“People in agriculture are eternal optimists. Otherwise we wouldn't get in it.”