On Monday, Gov. Dave Heineman will declare March 14-20, Nebraska Agriculture Week. Nebraska Agriculture Week coincides with National Agriculture Week.

“It’s important for us to acknowledge the dedication of our farmers and ranchers, and offer our appreciation for their efforts,” Gov. Heineman said. “What they do impacts all of us, on a daily basis, and in a multitude of ways. We should continue to be thankful for Nebraska agriculture and not take that for granted.”

To celebrate, Gov. Heineman will be joined by representatives of Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, the Nebraska State Dairy Association, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Grain Sorghum Producers Association, Nebraska Poultry Industries, Nebraska Soybean Association, and the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association in travelling to farms and ranches across the state. Also participating will be Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege, Chairman of the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee, and Greg Ibach, Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

The agriculture tour will start at 9 a.m. in Kearney, with an Ag Week coffee being hosted on the farm of John Shiers, who farms 1,200 acres of corn and soybeans with his father, Jim, and brother, James.

At 11 a.m., the group will be at Harry Knobe’s Feed Yard in West Point for an Ag Week Luncheon. Knobe moved to his present farming and cattle feeding operation in 1960. Harry Knobbe Feedyards feed out approximately 20,000 head annually and the farm operation is made up of approximately 1,000 acres. His commodity brokerage office, Knobbe Commodities, Inc. trades nearly 25 different commodities for approximately 300 customers located in 15 states. Lunch will be provided by the Cuming County Feeders.

Finally, an Ag Week Reception is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. on the farm owned by Dave Nielsen, located in northern Lancaster County. Nielsen farms on the land his grandfather purchased in 1915. He and his family grow corn, soybeans, wheat and hay on 2,200 acres utilizing no-till farming for the dry-land operation.

Nebraska’s largest industry is agriculture. According to Nebraska Farm Bureau, one of every three jobs in Nebraska exists because of Nebraska agriculture – in farming and ranching, food and fuel processing, marketing, distribution, research and regulation.