Agricultural Economics, Department of
Cornhusker Economics
How Agri-Tech Is Reshaping Labor Demand in Nebraska Agriculture
Date of this Version
1-14-2026
Document Type
Newsletter Issue
Citation
Cornhusker Economics, January 14, 2026
Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
Ag‑tech adoption is reshaping the labor landscape in Nebraska agriculture. Automation and digital tools are reducing the need for some types of manual labor while increasing demand for workers with technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and digital literacy. Although adoption patterns differ across row‑crop farms, cow‑calf ranches, feedlots, and dairies, the overall trajectory points toward a more knowledge-intensive agricultural workforce that blends traditional production expertise with advanced technological competence.
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