University of Nebraska-Lincoln to host land management webinar Nov. 17 – KHGI

Report on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Land Management Webinar and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability has scheduled a Land Management Quarterly webinar to address critical economic and agricultural issues. The event directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring economic viability for farmers, and fostering knowledge-sharing partnerships.

Webinar Details

• Hosting Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Center for Agricultural Profitability
• Presenters: Jim Jansen and Anastasia Meyer, Department of Agricultural Economics
• Date: November 17
• Time: 12:00 PM CST

Agenda and Contribution to SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The webinar’s agenda is focused on enhancing farm viability and productivity, which are foundational to achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture as outlined in SDG 2.

1. 2025 Cash Rental Rates: Analysis of the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service county-level survey will provide data for establishing fair and sustainable leasing agreements, ensuring land remains productive and accessible for food cultivation.
2. ARC and PLC Program Options: Discussion on these farm programs will help producers make informed decisions to mitigate risk, stabilize income, and maintain operational continuity, thereby securing food supply chains.
3. Leasing Considerations: Guidance on closing out 2025 leases and preparing for 2026 will promote stable and transparent land tenure arrangements, a key component of sustainable agricultural systems.

Supporting SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

By focusing on agricultural profitability, the session aims to bolster the economic foundation of rural communities, directly contributing to SDG 8.

• Promoting Economic Stability: The insights on cash rents and farm programs empower farmers and landowners to negotiate equitable terms, fostering sustained and inclusive economic growth within the agricultural sector.
• Enhancing Landlord-Tenant Communication: Addressing communication issues helps build resilient economic relationships, reducing disputes and supporting the decent work of agricultural producers.

Advancing SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

This initiative exemplifies a partnership between an academic institution and the agricultural community to share critical knowledge and achieve sustainable development.

• Knowledge Dissemination: The webinar serves as a platform for transferring expert knowledge from the university to stakeholders, strengthening the capacity for sustainable farm management.
• Interactive Engagement: The “Ask the Experts” session facilitates a direct dialogue, allowing for targeted problem-solving and collaborative efforts to address challenges in the agricultural sector, reinforcing the partnership model essential for achieving the SDGs.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Land Management Quarterly webinar connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on agricultural economics, education, and land management. The primary SDGs identified are:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the content of the article, the following specific targets under the identified SDGs are relevant:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.3: “By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers…” The webinar’s focus on “cash rental rates,” “farm programs,” and “leasing considerations” directly addresses the financial aspects of farming, which are crucial for improving farmer incomes and ensuring the economic viability of their operations.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The webinar, hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is an educational initiative designed to provide farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders with relevant, practical skills and knowledge in agricultural economics and land management.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity…” The session aims to enhance the profitability and efficiency of agricultural operations by providing up-to-date information on cash rents and farm programs (ARC and PLC). This knowledge helps farm managers make better economic decisions, thereby increasing productivity.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The webinar is a collaborative effort between a public university (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and a government agency (USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service), which provides the data for the session. This represents a public-public partnership aimed at disseminating crucial information to support the agricultural community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

SDG 2: Zero Hunger (Target 2.3)

• Implied Indicator: The “2025 USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service county-level cash rent survey” is mentioned as a key data source. The trends revealed in this survey, along with data on farm program participation (ARC and PLC), can serve as indicators for tracking farmer costs and incomes. Therefore, an indicator is the average farm operating profit margin or trends in land rental costs as a percentage of farm income.

SDG 4: Quality Education (Target 4.4)

• Implied Indicator: The article promotes a webinar and an “Ask the Experts” session. The progress towards this target can be measured by the number of participants attending the webinar and similar agricultural education programs.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (Target 8.2)

• Implied Indicator: The webinar’s goal is to improve farm management. An implied indicator would be the rate of adoption of best practices in farm leasing and participation in federal farm programs by webinar attendees, which contributes to overall agricultural productivity.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals (Target 17.17)

• Implied Indicator: The event itself is an indicator of a partnership. Progress can be measured by the number of collaborative educational events or publications produced jointly by academic institutions and government agencies like the USDA for the agricultural sector.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: nebraska.tv