Low commodity prices have been the bane of farming for many years. Suddenly, growers are excited about historically high wheat prices. However, the cost of many farm inputs are also at levels not previously seen. In order to take advantaage of the high wheat prices, growers need to sharpen their pencils and their production skills. The focus of the 2008 Wheat Technology Conference is "Sharpening your production skills for higher commodity prices." Learn what steps you can take to maximize profits in this unusual price climate. To download a brochure, visit www.ckb.unl.edu

Focus the Nation is a nationwide effort to coordinate colleges, universities, and K-12 schools to collaboratively engage in a discussion about global warming.

Focus the Nation is a nationwide effort to coordinate colleges, universities, and K-12 schools to collaboratively engage in a discussion about global warming.

Focus the Nation is a nationwide effort to coordinate colleges, universities, and K-12 schools to collaboratively engage in a discussion about global warming.

Suddenly, it’s bioenergy - ethanol and biodiesel. Bioenergy to solve the climate change problem caused by greenhouse gases. Bioenergy to inject vitality into declining rural communities. Bioenergy to free us from international oil villains. But wait… Bioenergy will drive food prices up and starve the poor by appropriating the food supply for energy. Bioenergy will ruin our livestock sector. Bioenergy will deforest the tropics and desertify the plains. Bioenergy will benefit farm landowners, but no one else. And bioenergy will happen only with billions of dollars of subsidies - can we afford it? In this course, students will evaluate the prospects for biofuels in the context of climate change and the world energy market. Participants will first review climate change assessments and the relationship of climate change to world energy markets, and will then examine the potential role of biofuels in reducing carbon emissions. Issues to be addressed include the potential effects of biofuels on food security and on natural resource sustainability, and a comparison of biofuel subsidies versus carbon taxes in mitigating climate change. Participants will be expected to research and report on scientific studies, and to learn and utilize various approaches to cost-benefit evaluation of public policies. Our goal is not to resolve the difficult questions raised above, but help students to sharpen their ability to analyze them and perhaps to more effectively advocate world-saving choices.

Focus the Nation is a nationwide effort to coordinate colleges, universities, and K-12 schools to collaboratively engage in a discussion about global warming.

Focus the Nation is a nationwide effort to coordinate colleges, universities, and K-12 schools to collaboratively engage in a discussion about global warming.