Though the nation’s economy faces prospects of anemic progress, Nebraska will see all-time record farm incomes this year along with steady employment and income growth in most industries over the next two years, forecasters said.

In its latest report, the Nebraska Business Forecast Council called for solid employment and income growth in the state for 2011 as a whole. While job growth will slow in late 2011 and early 2012, it should accelerate again in the second half of 2012 and in 2013. Farm income this year is forecast to reach a record $5.4 billion -- up 35 percent from 2010 -- and should remain strong in 2012 and 2013.

“As has often been the case when comparing the national economy with Nebraska’s in recent years, (the state) will be better off,” said Eric Thompson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln economist and director of UNL’s Bureau of Business Research, which publishes the report. “Even a mediocre U.S. economy usually meant a decent economy in Nebraska. As long as the nation stays out of a recession, the state should be all right.”

Nebraska’s total income growth, which includes both farm and non-farm income, will be strong in 2011, with moderate growth in 2012 and 2013, the report projects. It also forecasts overall non-farm employment in Nebraska growing 1.2 percent in 2012 and 1.8 percent in 2013. Meanwhile, the council is projecting jumps of 5.4 percent in non-farm personal incomes for 2011, and 3.9 percent increases for both 2012 and 2013.

The record in farm income is the result of good crop and livestock seasons, as well as long-term economic changes in Nebraska’s ag production sector, the report says. Nebraska farms have gained from rising commodity prices, increasing cooperation of key crop and livestock sectors and producers’ state-of-the-art management skills.

High commodity prices reflect a long-term trend of growing incomes in the developing world, shifting the “terms of trade” in favor of U.S. agriculture, according to the report. Another reason is the preference for distiller’s grain in feedlots, which has made Nebraska an attractive location for feeder cattle operations. Also, Nebraska’s large farms and flat landscapes have made it an ideal location for precision agriculture equipment and techniques.