NORFOLK, Nebraska -- The second annual Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference was hosted Dec. 16, 2025, at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. The all-day conference offered something for everyone. Whether attendees were interested in new management practices or were already implementing them, a variety of breakout sessions allowed each attendee to choose the sessions that best met their needs.

This event was created for producers to exchange practical farm and ranch ideas that will not only help protect water quality but also improve the bottom line.

Industry-leading speakers, paired with experienced producers, discussed hot ag topics from theory to practical application and technology integration. Although the intended keynote speaker, John Kempf, was unable to attend due to illness, Glen Rabenberg stepped in and delivered a presentation on soil chemistry, the importance of soil samples, and how to interpret them.

Back by popular demand, Austin Baldwin had a breakout session discussing Grazing Summer Annual Forages. A group from the Bazile Groundwater Management Area also presented on the project covering its history, purpose, and future goals.

A panel of local farmers in northeast Nebraska discussed how they are making conservation farming work locally. Graham Christensen, Lower Elkhorn NRD; Doug Steffen, Lewis & Clark NRD; Lanie Lechtenberg, Lower Niobrara NRD; and Kenny Reinke, Upper Elkhorn NRD, discussed their operations, how they implement different practices, and the economics of their systems.

If there are topics you would like to see at next year’s conference or would like to be part of the planning process, contact Becky Ravenkamp at 402-254-6758 or bravenkamp [at] lcnrd.org. The next Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference is scheduled for Dec. 15, 2026.

The Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference was co-hosted by the Bow Creek Watershed Project and the Bazile Groundwater Management Area Project. This event is made possible by our partners: Lewis & Clark NRD; Lower Elkhorn NRD; Lower Niobrara NRD; Upper Elkhorn NRD; Papio-Missouri River NRD; Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment; Nebraska Strategic Ag Coalition; USDA Matural Resources Conservation Service, Nebraska Extension, Nebraska Environmental Trust, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference is produced by the Lewis & Clark NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD, Upper Elkhorn NRD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (DWEE).

Glen Rabenberg delivers a keynote address on soil health at the second annual Northeast Nebraska Ag Conference Dec. 16, 2025.