Nebraska Farm Bureau: Four steps will help state's livestock development

Lincoln - Nebraska Farm Bureau recommended four very specific actions to enhance livestock development in the state in its testimony Sept. 24 before the legislature's Agriculture Committee. The committee held an interim hearing in Holdrege on LR 240, which is examining ways to promote expansion of the livestock industry.

Bart Beattie, a Farm Bureau member from Sumner, presented the testimony. The state's corn-ethanol-livestock chain gives Nebraska a competitive edge in growth potential for livestock when compared to other states, he said, along with its lower energy costs, access to feed stuffs, a smaller population base and abundant natural resources.

"Nebraska needs to enhance its recognition that animal agriculture is economic development," Beattie said, in addition to the focus it has given to the Livestock Friendly County program and current tax incentives. It should look for ways to coordinate expansion opportunities among farmers, communities and the state, he said, and assist communities in identifying locations appropriate for livestock.

Nebraska also should evaluate tax incentives for livestock development, he said.

"We continue to hear from younger farmers that access to capital is the largest factor preventing younger or newer producers from getting into livestock farming. While Nebraska has tax incentives for livestock development and a Beginning Farmer program, we would support an examination of these programs to evaluate their effectiveness."

The state also should examine how surrounding states assist livestock farmers, he said.

Streamlining state regulations and the livestock permit process would also be helpful, Beattie said. "We would support an internal review of Nebraska's state livestock regulations in comparison with our surrounding and competing states" to see if regs need to be modified to stay competitive with Nebraska's neighbors.

Farm Bureau also encourages consistency in local permit requirements, Beattie said, to reduce the uncertainty livestock farmers face when they want to build or expand a facility. "We support local control but believe there is a need to further examine if there are ways to help build safeguards for farmers which assure approval if they do what is required by the county. We believe there can be win-win options that protect local control, but also provide a level playing field for livestock farmers," he said.