Nebraska’s economy chiefly revolves around agriculture, with the state being a farm state and all. The main produce of Nebraska as a whole is cattle, hogs, soybeans, wheat and most especially corn. Despite Nebraska being famous for its corn, the state ranks second in the country in cattle production.
Nebraska’s farms are mainly found on the southwest plateaus. Sugar beet, another crop of Nebraska, is slowly rising due to the irrigation along the Platte River and its tributaries. Nebraska is very much focused on it agricultural products that the University of Nebraska has agricultural experiment stations all throughout the state to monitor the progress of the crops. There is also a program for soil conversation that involves a shelter belt that runs across the state to monitor the effects of wind erosion and the state promotes the use of dryland-farming techniques as well. Forest conversation is also a big deal in Nebraska with the state being the birthplace of Arbor Day, and is active in pushing for reforestation.
Despite being a state of agriculture, Nebraska’s farms also yield meat products as well. In fact, food processing is Nebraska’s largest industry most especially beef production. Which probably made the state famous for its corn since steak is almost always accompanied with corn on the side, but that is a different story altogether.
Nebraska has branched out in its industries other than the agricultural and farming, since World War II with the manufacture of electrical machinery, primary metals and transportation equipment. Also contributing to Nebraska’s economy is the discovery of oil, though not in the league of Alaska in terms of oil production, this still contributes to Nebraska’s economy to make a difference. Other sources of economy for Nebraska are found in its bigger cities. In Omaha and in Lincoln, these are the state’s centers for insurance and telecommunications industries. One thing to add too is Offut Air Force Base, since it was the cold-war center of the Strategic Air Command.
Nebraska’s economy isn’t just rooted in agriculture, though it plays a huge part, but is also complemented by industries such as freight transport, manufacture of steel and iron works, telecommunications, information technology and insurance. With a little help from its oil production, Nebraska is 25th in the United States in term of Per Capita personal income with $31,339. The gross product of Nebraska is roughly $68 billion a year.