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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman will host his second in a series of meetings to gather input from Nebraskans about the next federal farm bill on Tuesday, Oct. 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m. MT at the Civic Center in Gering. Individual producers and those interested in rural economic development are encouraged to attend.
“The next Farm Bill is vital legislation not only to the farmers and ranchers who help Nebraska maintain its standing as a national leader in agriculture, but also to those of us who care about rural economic development,” Gov. Heineman said. “Although we’ve already heard many different ideas for the next farm bill, recent discussions at the federal level point to substantial changes. Nebraska needs the voices of its producers to be heard.”
The third state listening session will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 in the Ockinga Conference Room at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, with another session scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. that same day, at the Sandhills Convention Center in North Platte. The final Governor’s Farm Bill Listening Session will be held on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. in the Northeast Community College Activities Building in Norfolk.
Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, will join the Governor at each of the sessions. Ibach said, “These sessions will assist us in working with agricultural organizations and our congressional delegation to encourage a national agricultural policy that meets the needs of Nebraska’s producers and rural communities.”
Each listening session will begin with testimony regarding a specific agricultural topic. In Gering, discussions will begin with an emphasis on livestock and specialty crops. In Kearney, discussions on renewable energy and value-added agricultural opportunities will start the session, while rural economic development and issues related to beginning farmers and ranchers will open the North Platte listening session. Finally, discussion in Norfolk will begin with an emphasis on conservation and livestock.
Gov. Heineman serves as the lead Governor for Farm Bill reauthorization as part of the Western Governors Association. Input gathered during the five statewide listening sessions will be shared with members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation, U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns and leaders of both the U.S. House and Senate Ag Committees.
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