Growing potato conventionally for dehydration is not economically feasible. The key cost would be seed under organic farming. The objective is to identify seed-piece sizes and spacings producing a profitable return for potato dehydration in western Nebraska. Atlantic potatoes were grown under dryland conditions using organic practices. Rain was 205, 270, and 360 mm in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Seed-pieces were hand-cut into five weights from 42.5 to 85.0 g and planted in five spacings from 15.2 to 45.7 cm. Seeding rates were 1.02 to 6.1 Mg/ha. Yield was highest at the spacing of 15.2 cm (16.1 Mg/ha) and decreased to 12.4 Mg/ha when seed-pieces were planted at 38.1 and 45.7 cm apart. Seed-piece size had little effect except that yield was lowest with 42.5 g pieces at 13.2 Mg/ha and increased to 14.2 Mg/ha with 63.8 g and larger. Specific gravity decreased slightly when pieces were spaced 30.5 cm (1.092) compared to 15.2 cm (1.094). Seed size had no effect. The size and spacing combinations with the highest yield were not found to be economical due to higher seed cost. Planting seed-pieces weighing 56.7 g, and planted 38.1 and 45.7 cm apart in 91 cm rows were economically feasible for dry matter production. The net returns, taking into account seed cost, transportation, and operations, for this combination was $326/ha, greater than for dryland winter wheat and millet. This study showed that western Nebraska would be a good location to grow dryland potatoes for organic dry matter production. Resumen Cultivar la papa convencionalmente para deshidratación no es económicamente factible. El costo clave sería la semilla bajo siembra orgánica. El objetivo es identificar los tamaños de fragmentos de semilla y espaciamientos que produzcan un ingreso con ganancia para deshidratación de la papa en el oeste de Nebraska. Se cultivaron papas Atlantic bajo condiciones de suelo seco usando prácticas orgánicas. La lluvia fue de 205, 270 y 360 mm en 2013, 2014 y 2015. Se cortaron a mano los fragmentos de semilla en cinco pesos, de 42.5 a 85.0 g, y se plantaron en cinco espaciamientos de 15.2 a 45.7 cm. Los niveles de semilla fueron de 1.02 a 6.1 Mg/ha. El más alto rendimiento se obtuvo con el espaciamiento de 15.2 cm (16.1 Mg/ha) y disminuyó a 12.4 Mg/ha cuando los fragmentos de semilla se plantaron a 38.1 y 45.7 cm de distancia. El tamaño del fragmento de semilla tuvo poco efecto, excepto que el rendimiento fue el más bajo con piezas de 42.5 g a 13.2 Mg/ha y aumentó a 14.2 Mg/ha con 63.8 g y más grandes. Las gravedad específica disminuyó ligeramente cuando los fragmentos se espaciaron a 30.5 cm (1.092) en comparación con 15.2 cm (1.094). El tamaño de la semilla no tuvo efecto. Las combinaciones de tamaño y espaciamiento con el rendimiento más alto no se vio que fueran económicas, debido al costo más alto de semilla. Al sembrar piezas de semilla con peso de 56.7 g, a separaciones de 38.1 y 45.7 cm entre ellas, en surcos a 91 cm, fue económicamente posible para la producción de materia seca. La recuperación neta, tomando en consideración...

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This article describes a novel grain marketing simulation game called Marketing in a New Era (MINE) that was developed for use in Extension producer meetings and other educational settings. Key benefits of MINE are that users can personalize the game's marketing simulation environment by incorporating information specific to their operations or regions, users receive immediate feedback about their marketing simulation performance, and users can engage in numerous marketing simulations within a short time period.

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The Center for Ag Profitability has released its Loan Payment Calculator, a web-based tool that makes it easy to calculate annual loan payments. Users must enter the total purchase amount, down payment amount, annual interest rate (APR), duration in years, and the starting year of the loan. The calculator tool allows users to download the payment schedule, also called amortization, as a PDF or CSV file.