Hemp Harvest Works in the News
September 28, 2026
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GILTNER, Neb. (Sept. 24, 2026) – Bish Enterprises’ FiberCut™ harvesting system has been selected as one of the Top 16 products in the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska competition, recognizing Nebraska-made products and the people and companies behind the state’s manufacturing industry.
Designed and manufactured by Bish Enterprises in Giltner, Nebraska, FiberCut™ was developed specifically to address the challenges of harvesting industrial hemp, a tall-stalk crop that conventional harvesting equipment was not designed to handle. The system can also be used in crops such as kenaf and other tall-stalk fiber crops. Its multi-tier cutting system cuts and manages long plant material in the field, helping prepare the crop for subsequent baling and processing.
With wider cutting configurations than competing solutions, FiberCut™ can help operators cover more ground with fewer passes, reducing time and operating costs in the field.
The Top 16 recognition comes during Bish Enterprises’ 50th anniversary year and follows additional recognition for FiberCut™, including a 2026 AE50 Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) for innovation in agricultural equipment.
Bish Enterprises has continued to develop the FiberCut™ platform as operators gain more experience harvesting fiber crops. Most recently, the company introduced an optional mechanical follow-steering system, designed to improve maneuverability, reduce the space required for turns, and give operators greater control when navigating field entrances, end rows, irregular field layouts, and contoured terrain.
“Being selected for the Top 16 is especially meaningful because FiberCut represents years of solving challenges that conventional harvesting equipment was never designed to address,” said Andrew Bish, Chief Executive Officer of Bish Enterprises. “We’ve continued to improve the machine alongside growers and operators, including the addition of our new mechanical follow-steering option to improve maneuverability and operator control in the field. FiberCut is a good example of what our team does best: listen, engineer, test, and keep improving equipment to meet real-world needs. Having that work recognized among other Nebraska-made products is something we’re extremely proud of.”
Founded in Giltner in 1976, Bish Enterprises has spent five decades developing agricultural equipment around practical problems faced by farmers and operators. FiberCut™ represents that same approach while supporting the development of emerging fiber crop industries and new opportunities for agricultural producers.
“We’re proud that this machine is designed, engineered and built right here in Nebraska,” Bish said. “Recognition like this belongs to the people who worked through the design challenges, built the machine, tested it in the field and kept improving it.”
Hosted by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Nebraska Manufacturing Alliance and presented by Pinnacle Bank, the annual bracket-style competition invites the public to vote for Nebraska-made products as they advance through successive rounds. The 2026 winner will be announced at the NE Chamber Manufacturing Summit on October 29 in La Vista.
Public voting for the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska competition began September 23, 2026.
Vote for FiberCut™ HERE
Round 1 voting ends October 4.
Additional rounds will follow as products advance through the competition.
For more information about FiberCut™, visit https://bishenterprise.com/fibercut/.
