'HIGH FEED COSTS, FERTILIZER EXPENSES HAMMER NEBRASKA AG PRODUCERS'

(Grand Island Independent) -- TheIndependent.com reports that "2008 was an expensive year for farming as Nebraska farmers and ranchers had production expenditures totaling $16 billion," up 5% from a year earlier, says the USDA. Feed for livestock increased 18% from 2007; fertilizer was up 28%. "The increased cost of crude oil ... directly translated into rising fuel cost, and influenced fertilizer products, chemicals, and transportation costs." See the story at <http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/08/15/news/ag/doc4a86509a09687088201142.txt>