Agriculture in Nebraska
ZIP codes in our Nebraska data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska's economy, covering the large majority of the state's land in farms and ranches. Sitting in the heart of the Great Plains and the western Corn Belt, Nebraska pairs vast row-crop acreage with some of the nation's largest cattle operations. For growers and gardeners, it is a place where irrigation, wide-open land, and a strong farming tradition shape what can be raised.
Farming in Nebraska
Nebraska is a leading producer of both corn and beef cattle, and cattle and calves typically rank as the state's most valuable agricultural commodity. Corn dominates the cropland, followed by soybeans, with wheat, grain sorghum, hay, dry edible beans, and sugar beets grown in various regions. Nebraska leads the nation in irrigated cropland, drawing heavily on the High Plains (Ogallala) Aquifer, and it is a major center for cattle feeding and grain-based ethanol production. The landscape shifts from intensive row crops in the east to cattle ranching across the Sandhills and drier western rangeland.
Climate and growing conditions
Nebraska has a continental climate with cold winters, hot summers, and a frost-free growing season that generally runs from late spring through early fall, shortening toward the north and west. Rainfall decreases from east to west, so the eastern third is relatively well-watered while the western Panhandle is semi-arid and leans more on irrigation. USDA hardiness zones range roughly from 4b in the north and Panhandle to about 5b in the south and southeast.
Major agricultural products
- Corn
- Beef cattle and calves
- Soybeans
- Hogs
- Wheat
- Grain sorghum
- Hay and forage
- Dry edible beans
Hardiness zones in Nebraska
Growers in Nebraska fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Nebraska
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Nebraska
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (94 counties):
Market prices & data for Nebraska
- Frost dates across Nebraska
- Hay prices in Nebraska
- Grain cash bids in Nebraska
- All USDA hardiness zones
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.