Browse the Nebraska Agricultural Labor Guide by the chapter menu on this page or view the PDF guide below.
Updated April 2026
In Nebraska agriculture, employees are a key asset to the success and long-term viability of the operation. The decision to hire begins when you recognize a labor need, and from there, employers must make a series of intentional choices to design a fair, effective process to attract applicants, select employees, support day-to-day people management and ensure that employees contribute to the business in a meaningful way.
This guide highlights several factors Nebraska agricultural employers should consider as they build and manage a workforce. It breaks the employment process into six segments:
- Recruitment
- Hiring and onboarding
- Training and mentoring
- Day-to-day operations
- Retention
- Termination
By understanding and planning around these six areas, employers can put a solid, practical framework in place for managing human resources on their farm or ranch.
Note: This guide is intended to provide general information to help Nebraska agricultural producers think through their approach to human resources management. It reflects information believed to be accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change as laws and best practices evolve. It is not a substitute for legal, accounting or other professional advice. Agricultural employers should work with an attorney, accountant, consultant, and other appropriate professionals to ensure that their policies, employment practices and human resources systems comply with applicable labor laws and support the overall goals of their operation.
This publication is based on the work of University of Missouri Extension in MX199, Missouri Farm Labor Guide. The team wishes to thank the authors for their help and contributions in bringing about this guide adapted for the state of Nebraska. Funding was provided by the North Central Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education agency of the USDA.
The following authors created this guide:
Shannon Sand (Agricultural Economics Extension Educator)
Sandra Overkamp (Project Management Specialist)
Jason Tuller (Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator)
Ben Dutton (Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator)
Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel (Rural Prosperity Extension Specialist)
Aaron Berger (Livestock Extension Educator)
Reviewed for legal clarification by Farm Commons
Funding is provided by North Central SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) and USDA NIFA.
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2021-38640-34714 through the North Central Region SARE program. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.