Report Shows IANR Delivers $849 Million Annual Economic and Public Value, Strongly Supporting Nebraska’s No. 1 Industry

LINCOLN, Neb., Oct. 20 — A new preliminary economic impact analysis by national consulting firm Tripp Umbach finds that the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln generated an estimated $849.3 million in statewide economic and public value in 2024 — underscoring the power of Nebraska’s agriculture and natural resources industries and IANR’s essential role in advancing it through research, teaching and Extension.

"For more than 50 years, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been dedicated to supporting Nebraska’s No. 1 industry — agriculture and natural resources," said Tiffany Heng-Moss, interim NU vice president and Harlan vice chancellor for IANR. "We are proud to help sustain this critical industry through our teaching, research and Extension programs, which reach Nebraskans in each of our 93 counties, grow the next generation of professionals, leaders and change-makers, and help shape the future of agriculture and natural resources in Nebraska and beyond."

The analysis, commissioned by IANR and conducted by Tripp Umbach, measures IANR’s broad contributions to the state’s economy. A full report will be released later this fall.

The early findings paint a clear picture: IANR is a valuable support to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industry and provides a clear statewide economic benefit across Nebraska. In 2024, the institute’s teaching, research and Extension programming generated a total of $849.3 million in statewide economic benefit. That includes more than $258 million in direct economic activity — such as salaries, research spending and operational expenditures — and nearly $591 million in indirect and induced effects that ripple through local businesses, farms and ranches, and communities across Nebraska.

For every $1 publicly invested by the State of Nebraska, IANR contributes $8.49 to the state’s economy. This strong return reflects the institute’s reach into every corner of Nebraska.

IANR’s work sustains a significant share of Nebraska’s workforce, supporting an estimated 4,499 jobs statewide — 2,495 directly within IANR’s operations and another 2,004 created indirectly through related business and economic activity.

Beyond employment, IANR’s activities generate $23.2 million in state and local tax revenue each year, helping strengthen the fiscal foundation of Nebraska’s cities, counties, and schools. The institute’s research alone delivers an even greater multiplier effect — each $1 invested in IANR research contributes an estimated $20 to Nebraska’s economy, a reflection of how innovation and discovery translate into real-world value for Nebraska families and businesses.

"IANR’s work demonstrates how a land-grant university can deliver measurable, statewide public value," said Paul Umbach, founder and president of Tripp Umbach. "Its research, teaching and Extension programs create tangible returns on public investment for Nebraska’s economy, workforce and communities. The numbers clearly show that IANR is not only supporting the state’s agriculture and natural resources industries, but also strengthening the overall prosperity and resilience of the state."

Agriculture and natural resources remains Nebraska’s largest and most influential industry, driving the state’s economy and shaping its communities. According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, one in four Nebraska jobs is connected to agriculture. In 2023, Nebraska’s farms and ranches made up nearly 90% of Nebraska’s land area and generated $31.6 billion in agricultural cash receipts, ranking among the nation’s leaders in cattle, corn, soybeans and hogs.