Interest rates, access to credit and input costs related to the ag economy were just some of the topics discussed at Tuesday’s Fed Listens event at the Kansas City Fed’s Omaha Branch office. Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr, Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid and Omaha Branch Executive Nate Kauffman listened to experiences and concerns from a panel of representatives from the agricultural sector.

“While today is a special event and we are happy to bring Gov. Barr to Omaha, we also hope that you recognize that the Federal Reserve is here in Omaha serving the community and more than 2 million Nebraskans every day,” Schmid said.

In Fed Listens events, Federal Reserve policymakers engage with a broad range of organizations, community groups, businesses and individuals to hear how monetary policy affects peoples’ daily lives and livelihoods. Tuesday’s panel was an opportunity for Nebraska farmers and ag professionals to share perspectives on a broad range of issues, including what’s happening on the ground, with Federal Reserve leaders and economists. Fed Listens events are a key pillar of the Federal Reserve 2025 framework review.

“We are going to consider everything we've learned in the past five eventful years since we last updated our framework, and we have learned a lot. But we can't do it without you, because you are who we serve,” Barr said.

Agriculture representative panelists included:

  • Brandon Hunnicutt, Owner and Partner, Hunnicutt Farms
  • Paul Maass, Chief Executive Officer, Scoular
  • Krista Prinz, President, Citizens State Bank
  • Shari Rogge-Fidler, President and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Foundation

“This conversation is really an extraordinary gift,” Barr said during the Fed Listens event. “It’s one of the joys I have as a Governor, to be able to come around the country and talk to people and hear what’s going around in the local communities.”

A recording of the event is available here: External Linkhttps://www.kansascityfed.org/events/fed-listens/.

Learn more about Fed Listens here: External Linkhttps://www.federalreserve.gov/fedlistens.htm

Interest rates, access to credit and input costs related to the ag economy were just some of the topics discussed at last week’s Fed Listens event at our Omaha Branch.

Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr, Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid and Omaha Branch Executive Nate Kauffman listened to experiences and concerns from a panel of representatives from the agricultural sector.