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Graze Master Beef new Retail Location!
We have a super exciting announcement! Canopy Street Market will now be carrying Graze Master Ground Beef, Graze Master Beef Sticks, Anchor Meadow Farm eggs and honey. If you are in Lincoln, Neb. stop by this great grocery store located in Lincoln’s historic Haymarket at 140 South Canopy Street | Suite A | Lincoln, Neb. 68508.
Follow Canopy Street Market at:
https://www.canopystreetmarket.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CanopyStreetMarket/
Ficke Cattle Company - Graze Master Beef and Anchor Meadow Farm will be at the Seward Farmer’s Market from May through October on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. We will have beef, eggs and honey. Remember to make your Graze Master Beef orders by calling Del Ficke at (402) 499-0329 or Emely Hendl at (402) 613-5483.
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This article first ran in the Friday, April 19 edition of the Midwest Messenger. We are proud to be part of this research effort at Ficke Cattle Company.
Behold Our Living Soil
By Kerry Hoffschneider
From left; Laura Thompson – Nebraska On-Farm Research Network coordinator, Andrea Basche – assistant professor of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Aaron Hird – Nebraska NRCS State Soil Health Specialist. The three represent major branches of those partnering on the Nebraska NRCS Soil Health Initiative – Soil Health Demonstration Project.
Hird explains some of the various attributes that can be seen by observing soil collected from some of the Soil Health Demonstration sites.
“Behold, our living soil,” were the words displayed in front of a room full of farmers and ranchers who are regenerating healthier soil and new farmland management systems because of a program that is inspiring collaboration, communication and a genuine connection between people to improve one of earth’s most vital resources – soil.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska Soil Health Initiative is a partnership between NRCS and participating farmers across Nebraska, “to demonstrate soil health management systems applicable to various regions of Nebraska, allowing other farmers across the state to have a local opportunity to experience the results of soil health focused management first-hand.”
The NRCS Soil Health Demonstration Initiative works with farmers across Nebraska to try different soil health practices on their farms and ranches. That information is then shared with their neighbors locally and across the state to provide real-time, on-the-ground results. “Knowing your neighbor has had success trying a new soil health practice makes it more likely you’ll give it a try rather than reading about a farmer in a neighboring county or state,” said Aaron Hird, State Soil Health Specialist.
“One of the main objectives for implementing local demonstration projects with farmers across Nebraska is to develop partnerships. NRCS is partnering with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network. Utilizing these partnerships allows for much bigger success on these projects and builds synergistic opportunities. This has resulted in UNL hosting the research initiative and the collaborative work building upon the collective database of soil health information in all of the partnering programs,” Hird went on to explain.
Involved with this first-ever endeavor are farmer collaborators from 17 counties – Chase, Cheyenne, Colfax, Custer, Dodge, Franklin, Greeley, Howard, Keith, Knox, Lincoln, Merrick, Nemaha, Otoe, Seward, Sherman and Stanton. The farmers involved were invited to attend the event held on Friday, March 8 at Holthus Convention Center in York, Neb., along with supporting Nebraska Extension Educators and NRCS field staff.
“We have had a great time investigating the diversity of projects implemented on these 17 demonstration fields around the state,” Hird pointed out. “I cannot stress enough this meeting was all about partnerships – farmers and the NRCS partnering with UNL Extension Educators on the ground, the UNL Agronomy Department analyzing data and the Nebraska On-farm Research Network publishing the studies, has really propelled these projects to greater success.”
Hird explained the Nebraska NRCS Soil Health Demonstration Farm concept is targeting adaptive cover crop management. Those involved in the effort are looking at the use of cover crops on the same acres after each cash crop for five or six years. They are also expanding from a standard rotation to a more diverse rotation to promote soil health; and, they are randomly replicating a treatment four or more times to quantify measurable results. The economic impact of each new treatment is being evaluated as well.
In addition, Hird went on, each of the demonstration partner farmers are conducting field days for outreach and training. Those involved have collected field data, field condition notes/pictures, economic inputs and agronomic information. Each project must utilize continuous no-till with no row disturbance, conduct annual soils testing providing a soil health score and compare or utilize a short-season variety vs. a long- season variety.
Many of the locations involved in this five-year, on-farm project are currently three years underway. Hird pointed out, “The comparison treatments were developed with the farmers to answer questions they had about soil health management.”
Among the topics being studied at the 17 locations statewide include: monoculture cover crops vs. high-diversity cover crop mixes, grazed vs. un-grazed cover crops, cover crop vs. no cover crop, nitrogen management of corn following cover crops, and early termination of cover crops vs. later termination.
Hird said the goal is to get every farmer and rancher to see the benefits of unlocking the potential of the soil beneath their feet, “Living soil can be built and answers can be attained locally. Each of these projects has a unique set of circumstances applicable to the area. Anyone interested can contact their local NRCS office, find information online or contact any of the UNL partners.”
“I just want to leave the farm better off for my kids than it is right now,” said Joe Sack – a Howard County farmer who is involved with the project, during group discussion. Hird said this is a common objective near to the heart of the farmers participating.
Learn more at:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ne/home/
www.cropwatch.unl.edu/soilhealth,
www.cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch
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 I wanted to introduce the infinite banking concept this month that may be a fit for some of you out there. Please contact me if you are interested in discussing this further and/or if you want to simply have a conversation about how to properly plan for your family's future. I would be happy to visit with you at no-cost. Thank you so much!
Kirk Peterson, FIC, CFFM
401 E. 4th Street
Suite 101
Minden, NE 68959
402-519-0330
UNDERSTANDING INFINITE BANKING: DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR YOU?
Article source: https://thecollegeinvestor.com/21605/understanding-infinite-banking/
Infinite banking, although it has been around for at least a century, didn’t become a popular concept until 2000. The growth of this idea is in thanks to the book “Becoming Your Own Banker” by Nelson Nash.
Understanding what infinite banking means can be a daunting task, but worthwhile to the right person. It may not be for everyone, but learning the core values of infinite banking should be on your investment list of things to know.
So let’s take a look at what infinite banking is, breaking down the core concepts and if going down this path is right for you.
Infinite Banking Basics
The idea behind infinite banking is for you to be your own banking system through “dividend-paying, permanent life insurance.” Instead of an institution or an individual having control over your finances, you take back control of all the banking functions you do every day. Infinite banking is a strategy that allows people to both borrow money and save money.
But before continuing, you must understand what permanent or whole life insurance is. This type of policy is lifetime coverage, as long as you continue to pay the monthly premiums. Because of that, your premiums are more expensive than term life insurance since the insurers are at a higher risk of having to pay out the death benefit.
A whole life insurance policy that has a dividend-paying portion adds cash value to the policy, almost like a savings account. These dividends are paid to the policyholder by the insurance company. It is almost like you are investing in the insurance company. Usually, the amount of dividends paid helps offset the higher monthly premium payments. You must qualify for this type of policy to use the infinite banking concept.
Realize the whole life insurance is also very expensive – especially compared to term life insurance policies. One of the biggest drawbacks of this policy is that insurance salesmen can mislead the pros and cons, simply to earn a commission on the insurance.
How Does Infinite Banking Work?
Once you understand what is involved in infinite banking, you can start to learn how it all works. Your personal bank comes from the cash value of the insurance plan. Insurance companies guarantee a minimum return rate on the cash value that is usually between 3 and 5 percent. On top of that, each year your policy gains an annual dividend based on the company’s performance. This is considered an “overpayment of premium” that is exempt from taxes.
Where the banking comes into play is through borrowing against your policy. You can take money from your cash value and use it for something else. The bonus is your cash value continues to earn dividends. Ultimately you are mimicking how a bank operates with borrowing a loan, just with your own money and insurance policy.
Is Infinite Banking for You?
As mentioned before, infinite banking is not for everyone. It requires a lot of discipline and dedication. It is something you must dive entirely into, which may require sacrifices until you can see the rewards. But when done right, the rewards are endless.
You also have to qualify for the insurance policy needed to follow the infinite banking strategy. If you cannot purchase a dividend-paying whole life insurance policy, then infinite banking won’t work for you.
But if you are dedicated and looking for a way to take control of your finances, then infinite banking may be for you.
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Our granddaughter is starting her own egg ventures, Attley's Eggs. Remember, it's never too early or too late to decide what you are doing and why you are doing it. So start dreaming, and doing, today!
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