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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman will host his fifth and final state session to gather input from Nebraskans about the next federal farm bill on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 9:30 a.m. CT at the Northeast Community College Activities Building in Norfolk. The Norfolk session will begin with testimony on conservation and livestock production. Farmers and ranchers and other individuals interested in rural economic development are encouraged to attend.
The Governor held Farm Bill Listening Sessions today in Kearney and North Platte, having already hosted previous sessions for western Nebraska producers in Gering and for statewide farm organizations in Lincoln. The Governor plans to hold a news conference call in December to discuss a sampling of producers’ testimony.
“Nebraska's farmers and ranchers are combating a multitude of concerns, from high energy and fertilizer costs to transportation and labor needs,” Gov. Heineman said. “The next farm bill is too important to the economy of our state to miss this important opportunity for input, and that is why I appreciate Nebraskans taking time to share their ideas.”
Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, has joined the Governor at each of the sessions and will also attend in Norfolk. Ibach said, “These listening sessions will empower our agricultural organizations and congressional delegation to encourage a national agricultural policy that meets the needs of Nebraska’s producers and rural communities.”
Gov. Heineman serves as the lead Governor for Farm Bill reauthorization for the Western Governors' Association. Input gathered during the five statewide listening sessions will be shared with members of Nebraska's congressional delegation, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and leaders of both the U.S. House and Senate Ag Committees.
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